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The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for Myself among his sons.”
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But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a young calf with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
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Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You shall anoint for Me the one whom I name to you.”
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Samuel did what the LORD had spoken, and he came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Does your coming mean peace?”
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He said, “Yes, peace! I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
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When they came in and Samuel saw Eliab, he thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before Him.”
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But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
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Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel, but Samuel said, “This one also the LORD has not chosen.”
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Then Jesse made Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “This one also the LORD has not chosen.”
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Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”
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Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down to eat until he comes here.”
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So he sent and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise, anoint him, for this is he.”
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Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers. From that day onward the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
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Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
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Then Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold, an evil spirit from God troubles you;
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let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the harp. And when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he shall play the harp, and you shall feel better.”
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Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
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Then one of the servants answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good appearance; and the LORD is with him.”
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Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
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And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.
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So David came to Saul and became his servant. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.
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Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”
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And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take the harp and play it; Saul found relief and was refreshed, and the evil spirit departed from him.
👑🕊️🎶 Summary of 1 Samuel 16 – David Is Anointed and Becomes Saul’s Servant
1 Samuel 16 marks the divine change of leadership in Israel. After Saul was rejected by the LORD, Samuel was commanded to anoint the one chosen from the family of Jesse. David, the youngest son who was overlooked, was chosen because his heart was pleasing before the LORD. Meanwhile, the Spirit of the LORD left Saul and an evil spirit took its place, and unexpectedly, David was called to the palace to comfort Saul with music. God was carrying out His plan in a hidden yet powerful way.
📌 1. The LORD Commands Samuel to Anoint a New King (verses 1–5)
➡️ Samuel was still grieving for Saul, but the LORD said: “How long will you grieve?”
➡️ The LORD sent him to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, because the new king had already been chosen from his sons
➡️ Samuel came with the reason of offering a sacrifice, so as not to arouse Saul’s suspicion
🎯 The LORD does not stop working even when the former leader is rejected — He has already prepared a replacement.
📌 2. The Lord Chooses David, Not His Older Brothers (verses 6–13)
➡️ Samuel saw Eliab and thought: “This is the one!” But the Lord said:
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
➡️ After all Jesse’s sons had passed by, Samuel asked, and only then was David called from the field
➡️ David was anointed, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him with power
🎯 The Lord uses what is unseen by people — humility matters more than outward appearance.
📌 3. The Spirit of the Lord Leaves Saul and an Evil Spirit Troubles Him (verses 14–17)
➡️ After David was anointed, the Spirit of the Lord left Saul
➡️ Saul began to be troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord (a form of divine judgment)
➡️ His servants suggested finding a harp player to calm him
🎯 Without the Spirit of the Lord, power becomes empty and tormenting.
📌 4. David Enters the Palace and Comforts Saul (verses 18–23)
➡️ One servant suggested David: “He is skilled at playing the harp, brave, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”
➡️ Saul loved David and made him his armor-bearer
➡️ Whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, David played the harp, and Saul was calm
🎯 The Lord began to introduce David in an ordinary-looking divine setting — yet full of purpose.
📖 Main Teaching
- A right heart is more important than outward appearance
- The Lord prepares a new leader even while the old one is still in power
- The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the key to true authority and service
- Without the Lord, power becomes a burdensome torment
- The Lord opened the way for David in an unexpected manner — through service and music
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Acts 13:22
“I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart…”
➡️ David is the ideal picture of a leader who pleases God.
📖 1 Corinthians 1:27
“God chose the weak to shame the strong.”
➡️ David, the youngest shepherd, was chosen above his brothers.
📖 Ephesians 5:18–19
“Be filled with the Spirit… and sing with psalms and spiritual songs.”
➡️ David’s music was a divine channel for restoration and comfort.
📖 Matthew 23:12
“Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
➡️ David was chosen not because of ambition, but because of humility and a heart that loved the Lord.
🕊️ “Man looks at what is before the eyes, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7
🕊️ “The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day onward.” – 1 Samuel 16:13
🕊️ “The Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul…” – 1 Samuel 16:14
🕊️ “When David played the harp, Saul felt relief.” – 1 Samuel 16:23
