A New King
“for to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.” ~ Isaiah 9:6
I had arthroscopic knee surgery this week. Nobody likes to go under the knife, but in order to heal and thrive, sometimes it is necessary to cut something out that is hurting the body and causing it pain. In our scripture for this week (1 Sam. 16:1-13) God told Samuel that it was time to move on from Saul. God would remove the nation of Israel from Saul and install a new king to lead her. Samuel who was in mourning over the current state of affairs under Saul was instructed to go and anoint the new king. The new king would lead God’s people to new heights, honoring God through the right relationship with Him. I pray that God would lead you to cut out those things in your life that are keeping you from a greater relationship with Him and the blessings He wants for you. Amen
The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” (1 Sam. 16:1-3). After Samuel informed Saul that God had torn the kingdom from him, Samuel separated himself from Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul’s fall away from God. But his mourning for Saul went on too long. But God spoke to Samuel to let him know that it was time to move on from that past failure (God doesn’t want us to remain parked alongside our failures, but to trust His plans for our future). God was not caught off guard by Saul’s failure, nor had He abandoned Israel. He still had plans for Israel’s future. God had someone that He had chosen as king. So He instructed Samuel to cease mourning for Saul and go to anoint the new king that the Lord had already chosen. Samuel raised concern over potential retribution from Saul if it got out that he was anointing a new king. In effect, Saul would view the anointing of a new king to be a treasonous act punishable by death. God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem and offer a sacrifice to the Lord but to also use the occasion to meet secretly with Jesse and his sons. God would show Samuel the next king from among Jesse’s sons. God will provide the means and the opening to fulfill whatever mission He has given you.
Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace? ”
Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” (1 Sam. 16:4-10). Bethlehem’s elders met Samuel immediately upon his arrival in Bethlehem to make sure that he was not there to cause trouble for them with Saul. Samuel deflected their concerns, saying he had come in peace, and was there only to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel immediately saw that Jesse’s oldest son (Eliab) was tall and looked the part of a king. But, God told Samuel that he was not the one. In fact God told Samuel that His assessment of the new king would not be based on the person’s appearance, but on their heart. That criteria is still relevant for selecting those who would lead God’s people. Jesse presented seven sons who had come with him, but God let Samuel know that He had not chosen any of them. God’s criteria for leaders of His people is that they love the things that God loves.
So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. (1 Sam. 16:11-3). After Jesse’s seven older sons were disqualified, Samuel inquired whether Jesse had any more sons. Jesse indicated that his youngest son (David) was away tending the sheep. Samuel refused to proceed further with the feast until David was brought before him. Upon David’s arrival, God affirmed to Samuel that he was the one that Samuel should anoint to succeed Saul. Samuel anointed David and from that day the Spirit of the Lord came (powerfully) upon David. It was a confirmation that David was God’s selection. Having completed his mission, Samuel returned to his home in Ramah. We make Godly choices when we patiently seek the confirmation of His will in our lives.
Samuel stuck in mourning the malignancy of Saul’s reign over Israel. Samuel’s problem was that he didn’t fully appreciate God’s sovereignty over everything in this world. He lost sight of the fact that the Lord is never surprised and His plans are never derailed by the failures and foibles of man. Likewise, you need to know that whatever is going on in your life, as painful as it may be, God already has plans for your future and His purpose. Once you realize that God will use your pain for His purpose, you can have renewed hope for your future. Samuel was able to see a new hope for Israel in David’s anointing as king to succeed Saul. And in the end, he could return home to Ramah with renewed hope and faith in a God who works all things together for the good of those who love Him. God wants you to know you can stop mourning the fallen and broken things of this world, because God has already anointed a new King who has His heart … and His name is Jesus!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
Listen to this crescendo of hallelujah praise for the King of kings. Mav City sings “Revelation 19:1”
