Bible Verse Synopsis 5-31-25
1st Samuel 16:
Samuel mourned for Saul. The Lord asked Samuel “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” - verse 1. When we fall short, we are not to mourn of our shortcomings. Instead rejoice in what the Lord has planned for us! We truly have nothing to mourn because He has great things planned for all of us. God sends Samuel to go “ to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons.” - verse 1. Samuel was afraid! Thinking that Saul would kill him. God bade Samuel take a heifer with him as a Sacrifice to the Lord. “And call Jesse to the Sacrifice and I will show you what you shall do: and you will anoint unto Me him whom I name unto you.” The Lord does not tell Samuel which son will be chosen ahead of time. I wonder why? Some of God’s mysteries we will never truly understand and that is something we have to accept. Our Faith and Belief should move us past these unknowns and help us understand that our thirst for knowledge can be our downfall. Trust and obey as Samuel does here and go to the Lord wherever you are.
Samuel goes to the Beth-lehem and the elders are scared asking him “Do you come peaceably?” - verse 4. They knew whatever Samuel said would happen and they feared bad news. God’s news is always good when we are in His name. Samuel invites these men to the Sacrifice as well as Jesse and his sons. This is reminiscent of God’s call to us. We are all invited to the Sacrifice of Jesus. Only in this way are we allowed to be with God. Have you said yes to the invitation of the Cross?
Samuel meets the sons of Jesse and is immediately convinced (by his own judgement) that the first son Eliab, is the one God will choose because he looks like a king. Samuel had fallen into this trap with Saul, and God turns him away from this line of thinking. Verse 7 - “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him; for the Lord sees not what man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” This is so comforting to me. God knows us and our hearts and will judge us there. Not by our lack of hair on our heads or short stature or the things we possess. That is what man does. We should all be more like God in this manner. Judge not by the physical appearance but by the heart. Are you ready to make this change with me? It will not be easy but with prayer we can overcome.
God rejects all of Jesse’s children until they come to David. Who is out tending the sheep. When we was brought forth to Samuel with his red hair and beautiful eyes, God told Samuel “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” - verse 12. Samuel anoints David with the horn of oil and the Spirit of God came upon David. Samuel then departs to Ramah. The neglected by man, as David was by Jesse, are often the ones God chooses because they have been cast of by man, not by God. We are given no reason as to why Jesse hadn’t brought David in to see Samuel along with his other children. We must understand that God judges not like us and chose this way because God knows best. What are we casting off from our lives without asking God about? He calls us to take all things, big and small to Him.
The Spirit departed from Saul completely and without the Spirit protecting him, an evil spirit was allowed to make his way into Saul’s heart. Saul servants saw this and told him. It must have been very obvious what was going on to these men or God gave them the ability to see it. How would man see an evil spirit otherwise? The servants ask to go find a man to play the harp for Saul and to heal him. Why they thought music would heal Saul I do not know. One of the servants suggested “a son of Jesse and Beth-lehemite, who is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.” - Verse 18. Who else could this person be but David? This tells us that David has been prepared in many things; wisdom, strength, and music. He also grew up to be handsome. The Lord must have worked with David to get him this education before his time on the throne would come. What has the Lord given you in opportunities that are preparing you for a greater calling? Are you giving Him the Glory so that your achievements are his? Does the world know that He is with you as Saul’s servants know God is with David?
Saul summoned David to the throne. David turned to love Saul and he became his armor bearer. When this happened Saul sent to Jesse asking for David to stay because Saul has found favor of him. Even Saul had to ask permission of the father of David. This is symbolic of us asking the Father, God, for what we need. Are you asking Him for what you need?
Verse 23 tells us something we have yet to hear in the Bible. “that David took an harp; and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed him.” Music in this case had the power of healing. When the music is in the name of the Lord it can do amazing things for us. What else with the blessing of God can help us overcome our ailments?