David: God’s Surprising Choice (1 Samuel 16:1-13) :: By Donald Whitchard
“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.’ And Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.’ But the LORD said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.’
“So, Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, ‘Have you come peaceably?’ And he said, ‘Peaceably I 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 16:1-5, NKJV).
God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the new king. When Samuel arrived there, he commands Jesse to gather together his sons. They proceed to appear one by one before the prophet. It is by this process that God makes known HIS choice for the next king. He shows that while His choices are sovereign, they also show some authentic surprises. God shows this by whom He rejects (vv.6-10).
The first of Jesse’s sons appeared before Samuel. His name is Eliab, meaning “God is Father.” This son of Jesse is a fine physical specimen, and Samuel thinks that this is the chosen one. But God said, “I have refused him.” This also means that He rejected Eliab as king. His outward appearance is pleasing, but God saw his inner character and, in doing so, disqualified him from being the next king.
The next son in line is Abinadab, meaning “My father is noble.” But he is also passed over and rejected by the LORD. The next in line is Shammah, whose name means “Astonishment.” This might have referred to his physical size or some other trait, but no matter; he is also rejected. One son after another passes by Samuel, and all are rejected by the LORD. Character traits not seen by man were seen by God.
God reminded Samuel that He does not look at the physical attributes of anyone. He looks at the character of a person’s heart. Before Saul ceased to be king, God had already determined to raise up a man with the right kind of heart (1 Samuel 13:14). It seemed that none of the sons of Jesse possessed this trait. Samuel then finds out that there is another son of Jesse who has not been introduced to him. He is the youngest (vv.11-13) and is said to be with the sheep. This youngest son is so insignificant within the family that he is not even summoned with the rest of his brothers. He had been left out of the feast and the sacrifice. He had been doing the work of a servant and was not even called by his name by Jesse. He is referred to as “the youngest.”
When David walks in, Samuel sees a handsome young man, bright-eyed, with the blush of youth about him. God told Samuel to anoint this one, for this is him! The one rejected and passed over by the others is the very one who is picked by the LORD. Here is where God shows His surprising nature, and the reaction from the family shows it. No doubt, Jesse and his sons were all amazed as they watched the man of God go over to young David and pour the anointing oil over his head.
Let us be honest. We do the same thing today when God chooses someone whom we think has little or at least questionable potential. The late Dr. W.A. Criswell (1909-2002), former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, confessed to this fault when he saw a fellow seminary graduate as someone who showed no outward potential of being a “man of God.” This man joined the U.S. Army as a chaplain during World War II and was described as a caring pastoral figure in the midst of battle who provided comfort and care to dying soldiers and demonstrated acts of courage in the line of fire. Criswell, upon hearing of this, repented before God for his attitude toward the other minister and learned the lesson that God uses vessels of all types for His service.
Another way to look at it is that the woman who scrubs floors in the church may be a greater soul-winner than the pastoral staff with all of the “proper training.” This should humble anyone who thinks that they have all the traits necessary for ministry yet is passed over for the quiet, unassuming person in the corner.
Let me use another example from history to show that God uses the unexpected for His glory and grace. Nearly a century ago, the heir to the British throne was a strapping, handsome, popular, and outgoing young prince named Edward. He was friendly, good-natured, and someone who easily mingled among his potential subjects. He had gone around the world on tour to visit with the nations that made up the British Empire, and it seemed that he was the future of the monarchy and all the glory that went with it. Outwardly, he fit the bill of everything a future king was supposed to be. Inwardly, Edward was an irresponsible playboy who did not take his royal duties seriously and did not see his role as a future king to be of any real worth.
Edward had a brother named Albert who was the very opposite in personality. Albert possessed a stutter and insecurity that made him afraid to speak in public for fear of being seen as a simpleton. He had married a strong woman of character named Elizabeth who helped him with his stuttering problems and shyness. He also had two daughters named Elizabeth and Margaret, the pride and joy of his life. He was content to serve the people as the Duke of York, performing the duties expected of a minor royal.
Edward had not married but instead had gone through a series of mistresses. He fell for an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson and wanted to marry her, but British law forbade a monarch from marrying someone who was divorced. Edward became king in 1936 while embroiled in this scandal, and the world saw Edward for the irresponsible playboy he was, totally unprepared for the responsibilities expected of a king and emperor.
After eleven months of being king, Edward abdicated in order to marry Wallis Simpson. Albert, the stuttering Duke of York who wanted to be a simple family man, was next in line to the throne. The British people were unsure about what would happen when Albert became king. Yet, history shows that Albert, who became known as George VI, is considered to be one of the best and most beloved monarchs in British history because of his courageous nature and leadership during the dark days of World War II, with Prime Minister Winston Churchill by his side. This was known as Britain’s “finest hour.” God chose these two men that the world had seen as insignificant.
Let us return to David’s situation (vv.11-13). When Jesse and David’s brothers were brought before Samuel, they were “sanctified” (v.5). Their sins were dealt with and had been made ready for worship. When David was brought before Samuel, there was no time for him to be sanctified, but he was ready nonetheless.
David was a picture of that believer who keeps his heart in a state of readiness. He does not know when the LORD might call him, so he stays ready at all times. This is the kind of person whom God is looking for today as well. He uses those who are ready for His call. David was ready, and he was also reliable. David was performing the duties of a shepherd. It was a dirty and lonely job, but it was what he was assigned to do.
After he was anointed, he went back to tending the flock, ready to put his life on the line to protect what had been given to him (1 Samuel 17:34-37). David was faithful in the performance of his duty, and this is a lesson for us as well. We need to stay where God has placed us until He moves us or gives us additional responsibility for His grace and glory. We are to allow God to develop our character, integrity, and faithfulness where we are planted. He knows how to open the doors to the next phase of our walk with Him.
We also need to remember that David had spent quiet hours with God while tending the sheep. He had slept under the stars and experienced the glory of God’s creation (Psalm 19:1). The words of Psalm 23 revealed the heart of David: quiet, serene, and reverent before God. He had been walking with God long before the prophet had set foot in the vicinity to seek the next king. God had prepared David’s heart and character in the stillness of the fields and, in doing so, readied him for the mountains and valleys that would come into his life and times as he served as a soldier, fled as a fugitive, and served as king in God’s good time.
He has a plan for you, my friend, even though you may think you are insignificant in the eyes of the world. He knows you, loves you, and is ready to save you if you will but call upon Him for mercy, grace, and salvation (Romans 10:9-10, 13). Take care of that today.
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