46. GOD CHOOSES DAVID

€ Yahweh hath sought Him a man after His own heart"

Aim

To show that God looks upon the heard and does not judge by outward appearance.

Synopsis

Saul had not proved to be a faithful king. He did not believe that God meant all He said. So God chose another man to replace him as king - a man who loved God and wanted to obey Him.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

GOD CHOOSES THE RIGHT KING

Because Israel wanted to be like other nations, they had asked for a king. God let them have what they asked for and gave them Saul. He was just the sort of king they wanted -tall, strong and handsome. His appearance impressed the people very much. But God, who looked into his heart and mind, saw what he was really like - selfish, proud and disobedient. These faults made Saul unfit to rule God's people; so God's prophet, Samuel, told him:"Yahweh hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou" (I Sam. 15:28). It had not been easy for Samuel to turn away from Saul. He had tried to help him and was sad that Saul had failed. But now God wanted him to anoint a new king. "Fill thine horn with oil," He said, "and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a king among his sons". Jesse, grandson of Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess, was of the tribe of Judah. He had eight sons, the youngest of whom was David (Ruth 4:21-22; I Sam. 16:11).

GOD SENDS SAMUEL TO BETHLEHEM: 1 Samuel 16:1-12

So Samuel went to Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice and called Jesse and his sons to come too (I Sam. 16:2-5). When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, and saw that he was tall and handsome. "Surely Yahweh's anointed is before me", Samuel thought (v6), but he was mistaken. God said to Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for Yahweh seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Yahweh looketh on the heart" (v7).

Six more of Jesse's sons then passed before Samuel one by one, but God chose none of them. Naturally, Samuel was puzzled and asked Jesse, "Are all thy children here'?" Only the youngest was missing for he was out minding the sheep. Samuel told Jesse to send for him When Jesse brought in David, Samuel saw that he was a healthy, bright-eyed, pleasant looking young man. Immediately God said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he" (v12).

THE NEW KING ANOINTED: 1 Samuel 16:13

David was only a lad, a shepherd boy, but God had watched him grow to be faithful, and thoughtful and full of courage. He knew his heart and chose him, because he had the qualities which would make him a good and wise king. So Samuel lifted the horn of oil and, as all David's brothers watched, anointed him to be Israel's next king. The spirit of Yahweh immediately came upon David and remained with him from that day. This showed those who had witnessed the anointing, that God approved what Samuel had done. In Acts 13:22 God tells us why He chose David instead of Saul: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfil all my will".

David did not immediately become king. Years had yet to pass before he began the great task of leading God's people. God had chosen him arid set him apart for that great work.

LESSON FOR US

What a great lesson for Samuel - and for us - that God "looketh on the heart". Since God sees us at all times as we really are, deep within our minds, how important it is to make sure that what He sees pleases Him. God knows even the very thoughts of our hearts even if we say nothing about them (Psa. 139:1-2; Psa. 44:21). We cannot hide our thoughts or feelings from Him. If we remember this at all times, it will help us to be honest and true in all our ways.

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth to be king, he will punish or reward us according to whether our thoughts and actions have been bad or good (1 Cor. 4:5). So things we do, say and think are all important. If our thoughts are good, our words and actions will be too (see Instructor Question 19).

ADDITIONAL NOTES

In Lesson 5 we saw how the life of Moses was like Jesus' life in many ways. Now we see, as David is chosen to be king, that his life from the very beginning is a type of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We find many more examples like this in following lessons. They help us to understand how God taught His people to be waiting always for Messiah to come.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Who was the first king of Israel?

2. What kind of man was chosen to replace Saul as king?

3. Whose house was Samuel sent to?

4. How many sons did Jesse have?

5. Which son of Jesse did God choose?

6. How did Samuel know which son of Jesse to anoint?

7. How did Samuel anoint David?

8. Did David become king straight away after he was anointed?

Detailed Answers

1. Tell the story of what happened when God sent Samuel to Jesse's house.

2.  

   1. What can God see of us besides our outward appearance?

   2. What sort of thoughts should we think?

3.  

   1. Complete the following quotation - "for Yahweh seeth not as man seeth ..." (1 Sam. 16:7).

   2. What great lesson do we learn from this?

Additional Answers

4. How was the early life of David a type of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ?

"Arise, anoint him. for this is he"

1 Samuel 16:12