God chooses a King after his own Heart. David is revealed.
Saul’s character is fully matured. Saul is Revealed.
David is the anointed king in the midst of his brothers. This small detail is significant. David is a type of Messiah, being the predecessor to Jesus, as the Son of David. The scene is dramatic. Samuel is afraid to annoit another King in case Saul finds out and kills him! This says alot about Saul at this point in the story. God tells him essentially “just go offer a sacrifice, and I will show you what to do.” God provides both the mission and the means of protection.
Once Samuel arrives at Jesse’s house, he finds not one or two but several sons. Saul assumes the king God has chosen must be similar to that of Saul, tall and handsome commanding in posture. But no, God uses Samuel’s false assumptions to remind him that The outer and inner do not possess the same credentials.
This time God is looking for a devoted inner man, who has a devoted and faithful heart not a strong body. After passing up all the sons of Jesse present, Samuel discovers there is one more son, a youngest son in the fields a mere shepherd. It is David the smallest who is anointed King in the midst of all his brothers who are men of war.
There is a small prophetic moment here. David and his brothers who see him anointed King and yet treat him with contempt at the battle of Goliath, perhaps this is on account of jealousy perhaps this is on account of family hierarchy, later they come to join his company and follow him. this is a picture of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph’s brothers were not only rude to him, but betrayed him by selling him! like David over time Joseph’s brothers came to honor him as their leader. Like David’s brothers and Joseph’s brothers , Jesus’ brothers too – the Jews, although once indigent of his authority and presence, will one day join him and follow him. Just as Paul prophesied all Israel will be saved! That the jewish people are not lost , there will come a time in history when they honor Jesus as their leader and king and Messiah.
Another historical repetition: David is secretly chosen as King, yet in no way does God give him the reality of the throne instantly. in the same way Moses is hidden for many years within Pharaoh’s household, so too David is placed in Saul’s presence with a place at his table as a “son.” Only God can do things like this. Was it for the purpose of raising them in the places where they would eventually rule regardless of the choice and power of the king. Was it to show them that God can protect and preserve them even at the table of their greatest enemies or to show that sometimes the greatest enemy we have is at the table where we eat? We don’t really know but it is interesting to think we (they) don’t need to force our way into the places God has called us to live out our purposes in life. He puts us where we need to be, and sometimes it is unpleasant.
God chose David and rejected Saul, but Saul wasn’t ready to forfeit the throne , God knew this, even so God doesn’t need permission to quietly move David into position. While David is being exalted Saul is being humbled.
God is always arranging circumstances for them and for us, opening doors, closing others, and positioning His people according to His perfect wisdom. His plans do not depend upon the cooperation of those who oppose Him, nor are they frustrated by those who are eager to join him.
This chapter is revealing of all the major players as if the veil is being pulled back and all is exposed, but it also reveals so many mini prophetic stories and echoes of the past, we cannot underestimate God’s plans and purposes in the lives of those he has chosen. We don’t always understand his timing or his appointments, but we can be assured they do not have to be aligned to be effective.
Written by Kim Blenkhorn
My Faith Place 