I Samuel Chapter 16

"David's Call and Anointing by God [1-13]."
"Evil Spirits Troubling Saul [14-23]."

This Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription is provided with written permission by http://www.theseason.org

I Samuel 16:1 "And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons."

When God saw the deep sorrow that Samuel had for Saul, He stepped in and told Samuel to get a hold of himself. God said to Samuel, "fill thine horn with oil", and get down to Jesse's house for I have selected the another man that will take Saul's place to be the king. God was through with Saul and it would only be a matter of time before Saul would end his own life. Let's get on with the selection of a new king.

A "Beth-lehamite" is a resident of Bethlehem. The word "Bethlehem" in the Hebrew tongue means "the house of bread". Bethlehem is a very important place in history, for when Rachel died at this location, she gave birth to Benjamin. Though Rachel named the child "Ben-oni" [Genesis 35:18], which is "son of my sorrow", Jacob changed his name to "Benjamin", which means "son of my right hand" in the Hebrew tongue.

Jesus the Messiah was also born in Bethlehem of Judah as recorded in Matthew 2:1; "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem," We also note that this same Jesse is named in Matthew 1:6 as part of the lineage of Christ, for Jesus is named as coming from the seed of David. "And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;" God did not hide the immoral act of David's role in the killing of Urias, and yet David was very much loved by our heavenly Father.

God makes many moves, yet none of them are a waste of time.

I Samuel 16:2 "And Samuel said. "How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take an heifer with thee, and say, `I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.' "

Saul was a very jealous man and Samuel the prophet feared Saul in his jealous rage. Samuel knew that Saul would kill him, mantle or no mantle. Samuel knew that when he let it be know that he was going to anoint a new king, Saul would kill all those involved. So God told Samuel exactly what to do: God told Samuel to take the heifer with you and say; "I am come to sacrifice to the Lord." The duties of the priest were to make sacrifices to the Lord, and that is what Samuel was told to say. There is nothing in those words that would make Saul jealous, even if he heard them from the Samuel's own mouth. This not a lie, but it is "covert activity" used to fulfill the mission of God's Word. God uses common sense to get the job done.

There is a time and a place for everything that happens, and you accomplish your work by not lying, but by covert activity if necessary, simply stating the truth in the most simplest of terms. God practiced this when He chose Jacob over Esau, when Jacob went before his father Isaac wearing animal skins to feel like Esau's arms. Why would God do such a thing? Because "God loved Jacob, and hated Esau". This was stated in Malachi 1:1 - 3.

Malachi 1:1 "The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi."

Malachi 1:2 "I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast Thou loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: Yet I loved Jacob,"

Malachi 1:3 "And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness."

Esau's heritage is a waste land in most part, for Esau is what we call Russia today. Those lands of Esau's mountains are in most part, to rocky and to far north to provide substance for all her people. Esau [Russia] declared God dead in 1917, and seventy years later in destitute came to the nations of the house of Israel with her beggars bag. God blessed the house of Israel, in those nations today that go to make up the free world, with the United States and Britain in leadership, just as God promised to Abraham in a covenant. Paul restated this position of God's in Romans 9:13; "As it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." This documents that God hated Esau from before he was ever born in his flesh body.

God gave Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, a dream. In that dream God told her that she had two nations through those twins that would be born to her. Genesis 15:23; "And the Lord said unto her, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."

These two sons would ultimately grow to be the two superpowers of the end times, only one of them dissolved and fell apart. When Esau saw the he no longer had the blessing of the first born that was rightfully his, he wept and tried to get another blessing from Abraham. This prophecy was given in Genesis 27: and Isaac's answer to Esau was in verse 39: "And Isaac his father answered and said unto him. "Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth."

"The fatness of the earth and of..." is stated differently in the Hebrew text, for there is reads "far from the fatness of the earth" and not just "of the earth". Some Kenite scribe dropped the part stating "far from the fatness" to reverse the curse that Isaac placed on Esau. All nations know what has happened in the world today, and the position that Russia has fallen to. God's Word is like reading tomorrows news paper, and with it fresh in your mind there is no reason that you can not succeed.

I Samuel 16:3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto thee."

God is not going to tell Samuel who this one that shall be until the time comes for the selection. Samuel went there with his horn filled with olive oil, ready to anoint, but as far as the rest of the community of Bethlehem is concerned, Samuel came to have a sacrificial service, and to sacrifice the heifer that he is bring to the sacrifice. God will make the selection when David is standing before Samuel, and not one moment before.

I Samuel 16:4 "And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at the coming, and said, "Comest thou peaceably?"

Samuel did as the Lord instructed him to do, and came to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ and of David. When the true man of God came to Jesse's, they wondered what the purpose was for. Was it to bless or to punish someone?

I Samuel 16:5 "And he said, "Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice."

To "Sanctify" yourself is to clean up yourself morally, and make yourself ready to observe a proclamation that is about to be given. Jesse and his sons are to be part of that sacrificial ceremony, but they think it is simply the sacrificial offering of the animal that Samuel brought with him.

I Samuel 16:6 "And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, "Surely the Lord's is before Him."

By the time of the service the whole town has shown up, and Jesse and his sons are standing before Samuel. They still did not know the purpose of Samuel's visit, and the first son of Jesse to pass before Samuel was Eliab, the oldest and biggest of the brothers.

I Samuel 16:7 "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 seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

The Lord doesn't look at the outward appearance of man, but inward. The Lord knows what you think even as you are thinking the thoughts. You can't hide anything from God, for he know you better than you know yourself.

I Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel, And he said, "Neither hath the Lord chosen this."

I Samuel 16:9 "Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by, And he said, "Neither hath the Lord chosen this."

One by one each of the sons of Jesse are made to pass by Samuel, and Samuel looked at each of these sons and rejected them as the one to be anointed king.

I Samuel 16:10 "Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, "The Lord hath not chosen these."

Seven the number of spiritual completeness, yet none of them were the one chosen by the Lord.

I Samuel 16:11 "And Samuel said unto Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" And he said, "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep." And Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither."

"The keeping of the sheep" is the symbol of God's people. Samuel let it be known that there would not be one sacrifice, and not one word spoken until this keeper of the sheep has arrived. Again we know that little David was a man after God's own heart. Don't miss it for this is all part of the key of David. If you have "the key of David", as is written in Revelation 3:7, 8 you have the key that unlock doors that no man can keep closed to you, and in turn you can shut and lock doors that no man can open. This key is the wisdom and knowledge of God's own plan.

Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

If you understand the key of David, you will become part of the plan of God and be helpful to our Lord. Everyone that is helpful is indeed blessed of God. It is up to you.

So Samuel has sent for David and the entire town of Bethlehem awaits for David's arrival, for the sacrifice to begin.

I Samuel 16:12 "And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of the beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said," Arise, anoint him: for this is he."

Jesse sent and brought David in immediately before Samuel, and David was ruddy complected and was of a beautiful countenance. As we start this study concerning the things of David, you will pick up the key of David as we continue our study. Samuel now knew that David was the one to be anointed king.

I Samuel 16:13 "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah."

Samuel had completed what God had instructed him to do, and David has been anointed to be the new king of Israel. There is an insert from the Companion Bible that draws our attention from here on. That difference is in the Spirit that was in David, from those evil spirits that were in Saul. This will be discussed later in this chapter and especially in chapters eighteen and nineteen. Though it starts in verse 14, it never really takes place until verses 18, and 19.

This will allow you to understand what God is doing with Saul, as God is placing David into the place of responsibility. God is placing David in the place where he can be used best for him.

I Samuel 16:14 "But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him."

God did not send the evil spirit to enter into Saul, but in the Hebrew text, He allow an evil spirit to enter into Saul. Evil spirits are of Satan the devil, and they can only enter into one that does not have the protection of God upon them. Evil spirits can give negative thoughts, and there are not as many of these evil spirits as people think that there are, but they do exist.

I Samuel 16:15 "And Saul's servants said unto him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee."

The servant of Saul's could discern this evil spirit that entered into Saul, much as many Christians can today.

I Samuel 16:16 "Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well."

The ten tribes of the house of Israel were scattered about 745 B.C. to the locations where they now exist, and have become the nations of today. On many of their banners and symbols, the harp has become one of their identities. When this servant of Saul told Saul of this cure, it sounded like a good idea to Saul.

I Samuel 16:17 "And Saul said unto his servants, "Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me."

The order went out from Saul to bring in the best harpist that was in the land.

I Samuel 16:18 "Then answered on of the servants, and said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that 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."

David was "prudent" in matters concerning his speaking, and "comely" is in reference to David's appearance. Isaiah described The Christ that would come and be born, as being "comely". The word "comely" in the Hebrew text means "outstanding, or striking, not the drab and ordinary" as is reflected in the English tongue.

I Samuel 16:19 "Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, "Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep."

The anointing of David was on secret, for when Samuel came to Bethlehem and anointed David in that ceremony, the word about David got around. The little shepherd boy that was anointed to be king was will known. Now David's stature had grown to where in the mind of this servant, David was a mighty warrior. So far the only war David had was with lions and bears, and wild animals in the protection of his sheep.

I Samuel 16:20 "And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul."

When you go before the king, you always send a gift to be given to him.

When God wanted to be Israel's king, the Israelites insisted on having a flesh king. So God appointed Saul the king. Remember what Samuel told the people about a king that was a man? Samuel said that he will take your sons and your daughters and put them to work for himself. So we see that the very one that will replace the king is coming Saul's house to be of service to the king. David will be taken from his home and put into the service of the king.

I Samuel 16:21 "And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer."

When Saul saw David standing before him, Saul loved David. The armor bearer is the one that you trusted with your very life, for he is the one that stands behind the man putting on the armor. He was the only one that could attack the soldier in battle at his weakest place, and stab him in the back. This shows that Saul not only liked David, but David was one that could be trusted in all matters.

I Samuel 16:22 "And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight."

Here again, Saul is enlisting David into the service of the king, and Saul is letting David's father know the position of David.

I Samuel 16:23 "And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."

There is something here that we should pay special note of, for it wasn't the harp alone that cause the evil spirit to leave Saul; but it was that an anointed one of God had his hand on the harp. Evil spirits cannot stay in the presence of one that is filled with the Holy Spirit of God. The only way an evil spirit can stay in the presence of a person filled with God's spirit is when that anointed one of God allows it to happen.

In the first place, God allowed the evil spirit to posses Saul, for the sake of allowing David to be placed in the position to drive those same evil spirits away. In David we have the line of the anointed, from David to the birth of THE ANOINTED, Jesus the Christ. When David was present, naturally the evil spirit had to leave. God had His protective hand over David.

It is no different today for people can be troubled in spirit, even with their negative thoughts, and a person of God can dispel those troubling thoughts. That peace comes as the Word of God is revealed, it is just that simple. God has given those with the Spirit of God the power and authority over all evil spirits, yes even Satan the devil. This is why it is said, "When God is with us, who can be against us?"

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