1 Samuel 16
Arthur Pink · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 16
Pink points out, “Ah, my reader, it is at your heart the Holy One looks. What does He see in you? A heart that has been purified by faith? (Acts 15:9) A heart that loves Him supremely? (Deut. 6:5) Or a heart that is still desperately wicked? (Jer. 17:9). Mattoon - The underlying insight here is this.… it is difficult to find a man after God’s own heart. As you look at yourself, are you a person who thirsts for a close walk with the Lord? Is your desire the same as Paul’s who said, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10). If not, are you willing to yield your life and time to seek to know Him and the things that please the Lord? We can fool people, but not the Lord who sees our heart. Deffinbaugh: “There is a great deal of talk about leadership these days, and I must say that the qualities and qualifications sought in contemporary leaders are not those which God sought in David. Evangelicals choose their leaders on nearly the same basis as secular society does. We look for men who have “resources” (money and influence) and “a good business head.” God sought a man who had a heart for Him. I believe that character is the first and foremost prere quisite for leadership. It may not be the only one, but it is foundational. Let us look for the kind of leadership that God chooses. Let us seek to be the kind of men and women whom God seeks for His service . Related Resources: Integrity - A Whole Heart Proverbs 4:23 Watch Over Your Heart With All diligence Heart (03824) lebab note that this discussion also includes the closely related noun lebab -03824) sometimes refers to a literal heart (Ex 28:29, 1Sa 25:37, 2Ki 9:24), but most often is used figurative to refer to what I term the "control center" of our being. Think of an Air Traffic Controller and how dysfunctional, even destructive it is when the controllers fail to function as they should. Just as a healthy human heart is at the center of the body and absolutely essential for physical life and health, so too a healthy spiritual heart (intellect, emotion, will) is at the center of one's inner being (soul) and is vital for a healthy soul, serving as the "fountain" of all moral attitudes and actions. Our spiritual heart thus controls out actions and our actions determine our habits, which in turn determine our character. When God measures the ''worth'' of a man's life He puts the measuring tape around his heart, not around his head. Be a man after God's Own heart (Acts 13:22) We must continually "post a guard" at the doorway of our heart, so that every avenue for sin's entry is blocked. John
1 Samuel 16
Pink points out, “God anointed David king over Israel, yet before the kingdom was actually given to him, his faith was severely tested and he was called on to endure many sore buffetings. He was hated, persecuted, outlawed, and hunted like a partridge on the mountains. Yet, was he enabled to say, ‘I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.’ (Psalm 40:1). An important principle is here illustrated. When God has designed that any Christian should enter His service, His providence concurs with his grace to prepare and quality him for it; and often it is by means of God’s providences that the discerning heart perceives the divine will. God opened the door into the palace without David having to force or even so much as knock upon it. When we assume the initiative, take things into our own hands, in an attempt to hew a path for ourselves, we are acting in the energy of the flesh. ‘Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him’ (Psalm 37:5-7).” And Samuel arose and went to Ramah - Job well done! Surely Samuel would now be relieved somewhat of his grieving over Saul. Ray Pritchard in Names of the Holy Spirit - OIL 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 upon David in power. (1 Samuel 16:13) Once the Lord rejected Saul as king, that meant a new ruler had to be found. But where should Samuel begin looking? The Lord directed him to go to “Jesse of Bethlehem,” for the Lord had chosen one of his sons to be the next king. But which one would it be? One by one, Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Each time the Lord told Samuel, “Not this one.” Only one son was left, the youngest, a boy named David, but he was out tending the sheep. When David was brought before Samuel, the Lord said, “He is the one.” Where upon Samuel anointed David with oil, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him in great power. Oil is a familiar biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, priests and kings were anointed with oil as a means of setting them apart for special service to God. Oil also was used as fuel for lamps and for cleansing and sanctifying. In the New Testament, Jesus sent out the Twelve to minister in His name. They cast out demons and anointed sick people with oil (Mark 6:7–13). In James 5:14 we find instructions regarding elders anointing the sick with oil. Just as the priests and kings must first be anointed with oil before service can begin, so the power of the Holy Spirit is necessary for all effective service for God. Just as oil is necessary for the lamp to give off light, so it is the Holy Spirit who gives us power to shine as the light of the world. Just as oil sanctifies priests and lepers, so the Holy Spirit sanctifies the children of God. Anointing the sick with oil reminds both the sick and the well that all true healing rests in God’s hands alone. Psalm 133 compares the oil running down Aaron’s beard with the blessing of unity among the people of God. The oil of the Holy Spirit lubricates the body of Christ, bringing together Christians who would otherwise be separated from one another. Psalm 45:7 mentions the “oil of joy,” while Psalm 104:15 speaks of oil that makes the face shine. In Psalm 23:5, David praises God who anointed his head with oil. These passages typify the ministry of the Holy Spirit in bringing joy to the heart of the believer. Father, Thank You for the oil of the Holy Spirit. May the “good oil” of the Spirit flow through me today. Amen A Filling, Not A Flash 1 Samuel 16:13 In the days of electric trolley cars, it was common for the small wheel to jump off the power-charged wire overhead. When that happened, the connection was broken and the power was gone. Sometimes in the motorman's efforts to get the wheel back on the power cable, he would make a false contact. There would be a flash of fire, but still the car was motionless. When the proper contact with the power line was made, however, the flashing stopped and the trolley would move forward with its load of passengers. God knew that David would need more than just a flash of power. If this young man was to be the leader he needed to be, he required a steady contact with God through the Holy Spirit. To symbolize that experience, Samuel anointed David with oil and the Spirit came upon him "from that day forward." All that David accomplished of an eternal nature could be traced to this ongoing guidance from God's Spirit. It was not a momentary occurrence; it was a lifetime experience. Christians have many "spiritual flashes." It may be the exhilarating experience of a weekend retreat. Perhaps God gives an overwhelming sense of His presence in the midst of a worship service. These are wonderful encounters, but they are not meant to replace continual, daily contact with God's Spirit. Be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). His steady influence is what you need to move forward on your Christian journey. Don't be satisfied with an occasional flash of emotion. Let the Holy Spirit take control of your life and experience His power on a daily basis. Confess your sins and keep in contact with Him. A flash can never replace a filling. (Courtesy of Back to the Bible) Steady contact makes for steady progress. QUESTION - How old was David when he was anointed, fought Goliath, became king, died? ANSWER - While the Bible does not give us a detailed timeline of David’s life, it does provide enough information to know or approximate how old David was at significant moments in his life. How old was David when Samuel anointed him king? The Lord had instructed Samuel the prophet to go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s next king. As the youngest boy in Jesse’s family, David was regarded as irrelevant. His father did not even bother to call him to meet Samuel. But when Samuel considered Jesse’s seven older sons, God rejected them all. The prophet asked if Jesse had any other sons, and then David, who was out tending sheep, was called and Samuel anointed him. As is often the case, God chose the least likely candidate (1 Samuel 16:1–13). We are not told precisely how old David was at this time, but we know he was just a boy, probably between 10–15 years of age. How old was David when he fought Goliath? Scripture gives us stronger clues regarding David’s age when he fought Goliath. While the Philistines were at war with Saul, their giant, Goliath, taunted the armies of Israel daily. But none of the Hebrew soldiers had the courage to face Goliath one on one. At this time, David’s three oldest brothers were serving on the battle lines. David was sent to them by his father to deliver provisions. When David heard the defiant words of Goliath, he was grievously offended and told King Saul he would stand up and fight against Goliath. “Don’t be ridiculous!” was Saul’s reply. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth” (1 Samuel 17:33, NLT). The term Saul used here to describe David’s age is broad and can refer to anything from an infant to an adolescent. David was most likely a teenager, probably 16–19 years old. The fact that David was not yet serving in the army tells us he was definitely under 20 (see Numbers 1:3). Likewise, since Scripture says that David’s three oldest brothers were in the army (1 Samuel 17:13), we know they were 20 years or older. That leaves four brothers between them and David, strengthening the notion that David was a teenager when he fought Goliath. How old was David when he became king? The Bible is forthright in revealing, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years” (2 Samuel 5:4). Thus, David took the throne of Israel at about the same age that Jesus would begin His earthly ministry (Luke 3:23). How old was David when he died? Since we know that David was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned for a period of 40 years, that places him around 70–71 years old when he died (1 Kings 2:10). When the end came, David “died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor” (1 Chronicles 29:28). GotQuestions.org James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - 1 Samuel 16:1-13. DAVID'S CALL “God has other words for other worlds, But for this world the Word of God is CHRIST.” —HAMILTON KING Saul’s utter rejection and failure through turning aside from the Word of God is a beacon of warning to every servant of Jesus Christ. It is in vain we build if we are not doing the sayings of our Lord (Matt. 7:26). The wisdom of this world will always be foolishness with God. Let us note— I. The Choice. “I have provided Me a king” (v. 1). Samuel was forbidden to prolong his mourning for Saul. The will of the Lord ought to be more precious to us than the prosperity of our friends. Another king had been prepared and provided for His people. David was being prepared for the throne of Israel by his faithfully tending and defending his father’s sheep (chap. 17:34–36). As a well-known preacher has said, “God always begins a long way back.” God may choose the foolish things of this world, but He does not choose the lazy things. What we should aim at is not promotion, but faithfulness to God. Personal acquaintance with Him, and devotion to His will and work, is the highway to success and open reward. Don’t be afraid of your gifts and capabilities being overlooked because you live and move in ah obscure sphere of life; the Lord knows where the instrument is lying that is fit for that special work needed to be done. Make thyself a polished shaft, and God will surely hide thee in His quiver. II. The Commission. “The Lord said unto Samuel, Fill thine horn with oil and go” (v. 1). Since David, the son of Jesse, has become His chosen one, so He also chooses the means by which this end may be gained. God’s providences will never contradict His purposes. He that hath begun the good work in our behalf will carry it on. The anointing oil for the head of David is put in Samuel’s horn at the bidding of God, so it will not be put there in vain. Neither is it in vain when the Holy Spirit fills the heart of any servant of God, as many as are ordained to eternal life through them will believe. Samuel went, as every ambassador for Christ should go, in God’s Name, with God’s message, carrying with them the holy anointing power. Do we wonder that “the elders of the town trembled at his coming” (v. 4). The true man of God will always be a man of authority. III. The Search. “Send and fetch him” (v. 11). Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel; but the Lord cannot be deceived with a man’s countenance or the height of his stature. It is with the heart man believeth, so “the Lord looketh on the heart” (v. 7). “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” Because David was the least among them, he was the last they thought of; but the last shall be first, for nothing could be done till David came. “Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth” (2 Cor. 10:18). He who made himself of no reputation was exalted “far above all.” Self-defence is often a confession of weakness and self-conceit. In the judgment of men intellectual gifts and outward appearances are of great weight; but in the balance of God the scale goes down in favour of the humble and contrite heart. Eliab and Abinadab may pad their chests and stretch themselves to the full, but they cannot take the place of the herd laddie, whose heart is right with God. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.” No amount of pretence or bribery will ever gain that which can only come through being CALLED OF GOD. Make your calling and election sure. IV. The Anointing. As soon as David came the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” So Samuel “anointed him in the midst of his brethren” (v. 13). Perhaps because of envy his brethren show no signs of gladness at their brother’s high promotion. This wretched joy-choking feeling is utterly unworthy of any son of God. But the chosen one becomes the anointed one. This is God’s order; this is our privilege. “The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” It was a definite and memorable experience in the life of David. Is not every truly consecrated life accompanied by the anointing of the Spirit of Power? (Acts 4:31). We are not sent a warfaring on our own charges. For every special task to which we are called there is a special supply of the Spirit of grace given. David was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) before he was anointed, but just because he was such a man the sacred symbolic oil of power was put upon him. “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes” (Matt. 11:25, R.V.). “To them that have no might He increaseth strength” (Isa. 40:29). F B