All is Well!
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Just when we lose hope, God reminds us that we can trust Him. But His sovereignty does not depend upon what we know or think. We are called to simply have faith in God.
Not only that, but God sometimes does things in ways that we would never even consider.
And that is where our story of the kings of Israel begins for today.
God had rejected Saul as king because of his rebellion. But for now, Saul continues to serve as the King.
Samuel, ever faithful to the Lord, loved all of God’s plan. But scripture also helps us see that Samuel must have had a genuine love for Saul, too. We are told that he grieved for Saul.
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
1 Samuel 16:1
God’s divine plan was never at risk because of Saul’s failure. In verse 1, God reminds us that all is well.
At first, Samuel was afraid to do as the Lord had told him. He is afraid of Saul’s anger at being rejected by God. 1 Samuel 1:2
But God told Samuel that He would show him what to do. 1 Samuel 16:3
So, Samuel did what the Lord said and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:4
Recall how the story of Saul opens, before he is king. We are given a compelling picture of Saul.
He was impressive. He had a powerfully regal appearance. He seemed to be just the sort of man that any nation would choose as king.
…There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
1 Samuel 9:2
So it would be reasonable to think that God had chosen a man with similar physical attributes to replace Saul. After all, wouldn’t it take an imposing figure of a man to stand against all of Israel’s enemies?
God would never choose an unproven boy. Would He?
God’s ways are surely not our ways. Take a look as God’s plan unfolds revealing the next very unlikely King of Israel.
Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son:
So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Abinadab, Shammah and four more…
So, Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
Thus, Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
1 Samuel 16:8-10
The best for last.
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”
1 Samuel 16:11
Finally! Samuel had found God’s man. His name, as we all know, was David. At the time he was just a boy. Bible scholars believe he could have been as young as ten years old, but no older than seventeen.
Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So, Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 16:12-13
Later in the chapter we see another description of David.
“Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18
Although Samuel anointed David, it would be some years before he would first become King of Judah, and then another 7 1/2 years before David would rule all of Israel. Most scholars believe that David was about thirty years old when he finally took the throne.
Now that we have been introduced to David, it is time to step back into the story of Saul.
Saul has been taken over by an oppressive spirit. Scripture tells us plainly that the Spirit of the Lord had left him. But even Bible scholars do not dare judge the state of Saul’s soul. Only God can do that.
“But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him…”
1 Samuel 16:14
It is very important to keep this verse in context. The Spirit was always present in the world. But He would not come to dwell permanently in the hearts of believers until the work of Christ was complete.
This departure of the Holy Spirit was not about Saul’s salvation.
By removing His Spirit from Saul, God was taking away his protective guidance from Saul as the King of Israel.
Today, believers must understand the importance of living obediently before God. When we ignore our relationship with Him and conform to the world, true Christians will experience loving discipline from God. (Proverbs 3:12)
No true believer can live in rebellion against God. (Matthew 7:16-20)
You can be certain of your redemption. Romans 8 and the little letter of 1 John.
God loved Saul. Look how His Spirit still ministered to him.
And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
1 Samuel 16:23
God is always moving in ways that we just don’t see. But we can look back at everything that He has done. His divine plan has never changed. Could He be moving towards some wonderful plan in your life? Be faithful and find out.
The tragedy of Saul’s story is nearing an end. Next week’s study has a serious warning for everyone.
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Statement of Faith
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 