1 Samuel 16:13, commentary and pictures

Samuel passed by David's seven older brothers because the Lord had chosen none of them, then had David summoned from keeping the sheep and anointed him with the horn of oil in the midst of his brethren before returning to Ramah with his appointed work done. The anointing appointed David as God's chosen ruler to succeed Saul and reign over Israel in his place. The Lord did not judge as man judges by stature and handsome appearance, but refused the noble-appearing elder sons and chose the youngest, a ruddy shepherd youth, because He looks on the heart. From that day forward the Spirit of the Lord came upon David and rested on him, giving him a prudent and understanding heart and carrying him forward in wisdom, piety, contemplation and devotion. The anointing was kept secret yet gave David intimation of his high destiny, laying on him a sacred trust as king that sustained him to be true to God's purpose amid coming perils, temptations and Saul's pursuit.

Anointing Setting and Significance

Samuel anointed David only after his seven older brothers had passed before him for inspection and the Lord had chosen none of them, so the youngest was summoned from keeping the sheep. He was ruddy, of beautiful countenance and goodly to look to, a handsome, manly, modest shepherd boy who had proved brave and faithful in the humble office of shepherd and was now chosen to be captain of God's people. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, from among them, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward, after which Samuel rose up and returned to Ramah with a relieved heart, having accomplished his appointed work.

The errand was kept secret even from the family of Jesse, and David was anointed in secret. The anointing was an intimation to him of the high destiny awaiting him, given so that amid all the varied experiences and perils of his coming years the knowledge would inspire him to be true to the purpose of God to be accomplished by his life.

The anointing made David God's chosen ruler in place of Saul, the youngest son of Jesse called from faithful and courageous service as a shepherd to lead His people, and from that time the Lord gave him a prudent and understanding heart. The Lord appointed David the son of Jesse to the throne of Israel to succeed Saul and reign over Israel, and that divine choice made him pre-eminently qualified to bear the responsibilities of the kingdom. Abner, Saul's commander-in-chief, knew of this appointment, yet was unwilling for David to succeed to the kingdom.

The anointing marked David as the righteous one whom the Lord had chosen to save Israel and to rule in place of Saul, as God's chosen deliverer. God had left Saul to his own guilty course, while Israel's suffering under a ruler who dared to commit murder and slay God's chosen gave living evidence to what extremes of guilt and crime a king who rebels against God and is governed by his own passions will go.

Samuel's anointing was prophetic of what would take place at David's public inauguration as king. At Hebron the sacred oil put upon David's brow fulfilled that earlier anointing, when by solemn rite he was consecrated to his office as God's vicegerent. There he received the scepter and the diadem, and Israel received a king by divine appointment.

God's Choice and Endowment

Samuel was sent to find the Lord's anointed and had to learn not to judge by stature or appearance. He looked on the handsome countenance and fine stature of Jesse's eldest son and took them as the mark of God's choice. The Lord refused that son and all the noble-appearing older sons who passed before him, for man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart.

The Lord chose instead David, the youngest son of Jesse, a mere youth and shepherd of the sheep called from the field and from tending his father's sheep. He was ruddy, of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to, a handsome, manly, modest shepherd boy. His faithful service in that humble place had shown courage and humility.

The elder brothers, though impressive in appearance, were set aside for the kingdom because they were proud, self-centered and self-confident and lacked the qualifications seen as essential in a ruler of God's people. David, whom they lightly regarded, had preserved the simplicity and sincerity of his youth. He was little in his own sight, and therefore could be trained by God for the responsibilities of the kingdom.

God saw in David one to whom He could impart His Spirit, for David was receptive to the Holy Spirit. His life was rooted in faithful instruction at home in Bethlehem that prepared him in mind and heart. God in providence trained and prepared him for His service and purposes, and Christ shaped his character. His brave and faithful service in the humble office of shepherd showed he was chosen to be captain of God's people.

David was strict in all the ceremonies of the Jewish religion and distinguished by boldness and unwavering trust in God. He possessed remarkable fidelity and reverence, firmness, humility, love of justice, and decision of character, with a sincere and fervent religious character. These traits qualified him to carry out God's high purposes, to instruct Israel in their devotions, and to rule them as a generous and wise monarch. While he was true to God with these exalted traits God called him a man after His own heart. Exalted to the throne, his course contrasted with the kings of other nations in abhorring idolatry and zealously keeping Israel from being seduced into it by surrounding nations, so he was greatly beloved and honored by his people.

From that day forward the Lord gave David a prudent and understanding heart, and the Spirit of the Lord rested on him and endowed him. That Spirit carried him forward from strength to strength and from knowledge to knowledge. It enriched his opportunities for contemplation and meditation with wisdom and piety that made him beloved of God and angels. As he contemplated the perfections of his Creator, clearer conceptions of God opened before his soul, obscure themes were illuminated, difficulties were made plain, and perplexities were harmonized. Each ray of new light called forth fresh bursts of rapture and sweeter anthems of devotion to the glory of God and the Redeemer. His talents, as precious gifts from God, were employed to extol the glory of the divine Giver. The love that moved him, the sorrows that beset him, the triumphs that attended him, and his beholding of the love of God in all the providences of his life became themes for active thought that made his heart throb with more fervent adoration and gratitude and his voice and harp ring out with richer melody and more exultant joy, preparing him in the beauty and vigor of young manhood to take a high position with the noblest of the earth.

Promise Sustaining Life and Service

The verse shows a shepherd lad holding God's promise of the throne while standing before Saul, the established monarch determined to keep his power. His trust in God's word while powerless against worldly authority shows faith standing against human power and policy. The anointing laid on him a sacred trust as king of Israel. Remembering that calling, that Samuel had anointed him, and God's past victories and protection held him to that trust even when his faith in God's promises staggered and Saul sought his life.

That remembrance strengthened him to refuse to join the Philistines and the enemies of his people against Saul and Israel, for he would not betray his sacred trust or endanger his salvation. After the anointing he grew in favor with God and man and set his heart more fully than ever to do God's will, with new themes for thought. His time in the king's court showed him the responsibilities of royalty, the temptations besetting Saul's soul, and the character and dealings of Israel's first king.

Seeing the glory of royalty shadowed with sorrow and knowing Saul's household was far from happy in private life brought troubled, anxious thoughts about the future to the one anointed to be king. While absorbed in deep meditation and harassed by anxiety, he turned to his harp and called forth strains that elevated his mind to God as the Author of every good, and the dark clouds that seemed to shadow the horizon of his future were dispelled. The verse also means human judgment cannot tell by outward appearance which one of a family or which youth will prove most promising and render the best service to God.

God sees in many a child whom parents would pass by capabilities far above those revealed by others thought to possess great promise, and no one can decide what is great and what is small among life's possibilities. Therefore selecting only a few for special discipline is not enough. The whole mass of youth and every child needs thorough general education and training for usefulness, places of responsibility, and the highest service as laborers together with God.