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Christian Churches of God

No. CB89

Samuel Anoints David

(Edition 1.0 20060816-20060816)

In this paper we see Saul is rejected as King and God’s Spirit leaves him. Samuel anoints David and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David in power. We also see David triumph over Goliath, the Philistine giant. Chapters 86-88 of The Bible Story Volume IV by Basil Wolverton, published by Ambassador College Press have been adapted to form the basis of this paper.

Christian Churches of God

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(Copyright ã 2006 Christian Churches of God, Ed. Wade Cox)

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Samuel Anoints David

Samuel Anoints David Page 9

We continue here from paper (No. CB88), in the sequence of the Bible Stories.

Saul is rejected as King

One day Samuel came to see Saul about a most urgent matter.

"I have a message for you from the Lord," Samuel told Saul when they were alone. "As the one who anointed you king of Israel and who directed and advised you in many matters, you must believe me and act on what I am about to tell you."

Samuel then reminded Saul of how the Amalekites had so cruelly treated the Israelites when they had come up from Egypt over four hundred years previously (Ex. 17:8-14), and of God's promise to Israel that after the people were settled in Canaan, Israel would return to the land of Amalek to destroy the whole nation (Deut. 25:17-19).

"God has chosen this time to punish that nation," Samuel explained. "As king of Israel, it's your duty to take an army down to the land of this enemy and totally destroy all the cruel Amalekites, including women and children. No one within sight is to be left alive. No animal is to be taken as booty. Camels, donkeys, cattle and sheep are all to be destroyed!" (1Sam.15:1-3).

So Saul summoned his fighting force – two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Then his army moved southward through the territories of Judah and Simeon (vv. 4-5).

Saul delayed his march to contact the leaders of the Kenites – people who had descended from a desert tribe of the Sinai Peninsula. When the Israelites were on their way up from Egypt, the Kenites helped them when they needed guidance across a desert region. The guide was Hobab (SHD 2246, cherished), a Kenite (1Chro. 2:55, of the sub-tribe of Kayin, of Midian) who helped lead them through the desert (Num. 10:29-32). Hobab was the son of Reuel or Raguel (meaning a friend of God, Ex. 2:18; 18:12; Jdg. 4:11), Moses' father-in-law, who was also called Jethro. Because the Kenites liked the Israelites, many of these people went with the Israelites into Canaan, where they were given land with the tribe of Judah (Jdg. 1:16; cf also Gen. 15:19; Num. 24:21; 1Sam 27:10; 30:29) with a branch in the north (Jdg. 4:11). There they lived just north of the Amalekites. There was considerable intermingling of the two peoples.

"We are moving against the Amalekites," Saul informed the Kenites. "Your people have been our friends ever since we came up from Egypt, so we are warning you now to separate from the Amalekites at once. Any of you who are with them when we attack might accidentally be killed along with our enemy!"

Within hours most of the Kenites had quietly departed from the country of the Amalekites (v.6). Then Saul attacked the Amalekites and killed them all except for the king, Agag. Saul and his army also spared the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs – everything that was good (vv. 7-9).

But Saul had been plainly told not to spare any Amalekite or anything that belonged to them. This disobedience was about to result in grave trouble for him.

God chooses David

While Saul and his soldiers were on their way back, following their triumph over the Amalekites, Samuel received a message from the Lord.

"Samuel, I am not pleased with the man I set on the throne of Israel," the Lord informed him. "He has rebelled. He refused to carry out all the things he was plainly told to do on this mission."

Samuel was grieved at this report. He was so sad that he spent all night praying that God would give Saul another opportunity to overcome his wilful ways (vv.10-11).

As dawn approached Samuel went to meet Saul, but he was told that Saul had gone to Carmel and there he had a monument erected in his own honour and then went on down to Gilgal (v.12).

When Samuel finally reached him, Saul said, “May God's blessing be on you. I have carried out the Lord’s instructions”.

"Then what are the many animal sounds that I am now hearing?" Samuel said.

"Oh, those are the herds my men brought back from the Amalekites," Saul answered. "They picked out the very best animals to bring back to sacrifice to God, and we totally destroyed the rest" (vv. 13-15).

"Stop!” Samuel said. "Just last night the Lord spoke to me. He reminded me that he had chosen you as Israel's leader when you had a humble attitude and thought of yourself as of little worth. But he is not pleased with you now because you more and more ignore his instructions and take matters into your own hands. You were sent to destroy ALL the Amalekites and ALL their belongings. Why haven't you obeyed?"

"But I did obey," Saul argued. "I saw that all the Amalekites were destroyed except their ruler, whom I brought back as proof of our victory. It was my men who insisted on bringing back the livestock for sacrificing to God."

"With God, obedience comes before burnt offerings and sacrifices," Samuel sternly reminded the king. "Disobedience is as bad as witchcraft in God's sight, and stubbornness such as yours is as evil as the worship of heathen idols! What your conduct adds up to is rebellion against God. Now I must tell you that God is rejecting you as king of Israel!" (vv. 16-23).

Saul stared unhappily at Samuel. He knew that the old prophet spoke the truth. Saul said, “I have sinned. I disobeyed the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you to forgive my sin and go with me so that I may worship God."

Samuel replied, "I will not go with you. You have rejected the work of the Lord and He has rejected you as king over Israel" (vv. 24-26).

Samuel turned to leave and Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe and it tore.

Samuel said to Saul. "Just as my coat was torn from me, so shall the kingdom of Israel be torn from you at this time. Besides, the rulership shall be turned over to one of your neighbours – to one better than you – and God does not change His mind" (vv. 27-29).

Saul begged the prophet to go back with him so as to honour him before his people and the elders of Israel. So Samuel went back with Saul and Saul worshipped before God (vv. 30-31).

Then Samuel demanded that Agag, the Amalekite king, be brought before him. Agag came confidently before Samuel thinking he had escaped death.

Samuel said to Agag, "As your sword had made many women childless, so your mother will become childless!"

Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal, which is what Saul had refused to do (vv.32-33).

At this point some readers – particularly parents who are reading this account to their children – will be horrified at the bloody ending of Agag. But it should be pointed out that the Bible is the source of this account. It shows human nature as it really is. No part of the Bible should be kept from anyone, though many falsely believe that some areas of the Scriptures are unfit to read. That sort of thinking has helped to develop and promote the hundreds of so-called Christian sects that exist today. None of these churches can rightfully claim to be God's churches unless they teach ALL of the Bible as God inspired, and observe and keep ALL of God's rules for the right way of living.

Meanwhile, Samuel returned to Ramah and Saul went to his home in Gibeah. Until the day Samuel died he did not go to see Saul again, though he mourned for Saul. And the Lord was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel (vv. 34-35).

God did not make an error by making Saul king that He needed to be sorry about. God knows everything that is going to happen and He saw Saul’s heart and the need to make a change in the leadership. If a leader of God’s people does not obey God then he forfeits his right to rule. Even though Samuel cut off all contact with Saul he did not cease to pray and mourn for him. We also should pray for our leaders even though they sin.

Samuel sent to Jesse

"How long must you go on feeling sorry for Saul?" the Lord inquired of Samuel. "You know he is no longer king in my eyes, so forget about him. Fill your horn with olive oil for anointing and go to Bethlehem. I will send you to a man called Jesse. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

God is now about to fulfil the promise made to the tribe of Judah.

"But Saul is very angry with me," Samuel told the Lord. "If I should be picked up by his men and if they should find out why I am going to Bethlehem, they would probably kill me."

"Don't be concerned," the Lord answered. "Take a young cow with you, and if anyone asks you questions, explain that you are taking the heifer for a sacrifice. When you arrive in Bethlehem, request that Jesse and his sons go with you to sacrifice. After that I shall let you know what to do" (1Sam.16:1-3).

Samuel did what the Lord said. When he reached Bethlehem the elders of the city trembled when they met him.

"We trust that you come on some mission of peace."

"I do," Samuel answered. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Prepare yourselves as you should for sacrificing and come and join me."

Samuel then consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they got there Samuel saw Jesse’s son, Eliab, and he was greatly impressed by the size and the appearance of Eliab. He concluded at once that this was the man whom God had picked as the next leader of Israel (vv. 4-6).

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't try to determine what a man is like by his appearance only. I judge men by what is in their minds and hearts. This is not the man I have chosen to succeed Saul."

Jesse called in another son, Abinadab, who also impressed Samuel. But again the Lord told him that Abinadab wasn't the one. A third son, named Shammah, was brought in. Samuel was told not to anoint him either. Four more young men appeared, but Samuel was told that none of them was the right one.

"Are these all of your sons?" Samuel asked Jesse.

"I have another son, David, but he is my youngest and he is out taking care of our sheep."

Samuel said, "Send for him. We won't sit down until I see this David" (vv. 7-11).

A little later young David came in. Samuel noticed that he was the smallest of Jesse's sons, though with a fine appearance and handsome features.

"This is the one; rise up and anoint him,” the Lord said to Samuel. So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his father and brothers. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah (vv. 12-13).

At the same time a change was taking place in Saul. He became more irritable and worried. He had growing periods of depression, and suspected those about him as spies. The Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him (v.14).

David meets King Saul

Saul didn't fully realise that God had withdrawn from him that wonderful peace and soundness of mind that God gives to people who obey His Laws.

Saul's servants were so concerned over their master's behaviour that they suggested that he use music to bring him out of his periods of depression.

They said, “Let us search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from the Lord comes upon you, and you will feel better" (vv.15-16).

Saul then told his servants to find someone who plays well.

One of his servants said, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp, He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and he is handsome. And the Lord is with him” (vv. 17 18).

Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep”.

So Jesse loaded a donkey with provisions of wine and bread, and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul (vv.19-20).

Then David entered Saul’s service. Saul liked him very much and Saul sent messengers to ask Jesse to let David remain in his service.

Whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, David would play the harp and Saul would feel better. And the evil spirit would leave Saul (vv. 21-23). Here we see that David had power over the demons through the Holy Spirit.

Not long after David had grown out of his teens, the Philistine army gathered their forces for war against Israel. They camped at Ephes Dammin, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and his army assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and were ready to meet the Philistines in battle. The Philistines were on one hill and the Israelites on another, with the valley between them (1Sam. 17:1-3).