Samuel Mourns for Saul - He is directed to the house of Jesse -Anointing of David - Preparation of David for

the Royal Office -The "Evil Spirit from the Lord" upon Saul - David is sent to Court - War with the Philistines

- Combat between David and Goliath - Friendship of David and Jonathan. (1 SAMUEL 16-18:4)

IF the tragic events just recorded, and the share which Samuel had in them, had left on the mind a lingering

feeling as of harshness or imperiousness on the part of the old prophet, the narrative which follows must

remove all such erroneous impressions. So far from feeling calm or satisfied under the new state of things

which it had been his duty to bring about, Samuel seems almost wholly absorbed by sorrow for Saul

personally, and for what had happened; not unmixed, we may suppose, with concern for the possible

consequences of his rejection.154

It needed the voice of God to recall the mind of the prophet to the wider interests of the theocracy, and to

calm him into complete submission by showing how the difficulties which he anticipated had been provided

for. A new king had alre ady been fixed upon, and the duty was laid on Samuel to designate him for that

office. Accordingly Samuel was now sent to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be Saul's successor. From

the first, and increasingly, Samuel's public career had been difficult and trying. But never before had his faith

been so severely tested as by this commission. He who had never feared the face of man, and who so lately

had boldly confronted Saul at Gilgal, now spake as if afraid for his life, in case Saul, who no doubt was

already under the influence of the "evil spirit," or rather the spirit of evil, should hear of what might seem an

attempt to dethrone him. But, as always in such circumstances, the fears, which weakness suggested,

proved groundless. As in the case of Saul, so in that of David, it was not intended that the anointing should

be followed by immediate outward consequences. Hence there was no need for publicity; on the contrary,

privacy served important purposes. The chief present object seems to have been a solemn call to David to

prepare himself, as having been set apart for some great work.

Besides, in view of the meaning of this symbol, and of its results in Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13), the

anointing may be regarded as an ordinance in connection with the gift of the Spirit of God, Who alone

qualified for the work. In view of all this, God directed Samuel to combine the anointing of Jesse's son with a

sacrificial service at Bethlehem, the home of Jesse. Only the latter, or public service, required to be made

generally known. Many reasons will suggest themselves why the other part of Samuel's commission should

have remained secret, probably not fully understood by Jesse, or even by David himself.155

The narrative also affords some interesting glimpses into the history of the time. Thus we infer that Samuel

had been in the habit of visiting various places in the land for the purpose of sacrifice and instruction. The

former was quite lawful, so long as the ark was not in its central sanctuary.156 On the other hand, it needs no

comment to show the importance of such periodical visits of the prophet at a time when religious knowledge

was necessarily so scanty, and the means of grace so scarce. It helps us to understand how religion was

kept alive in the land. Again, the narrative implies that the family of Jesse must have occupied a leading

place in Bethlehem, and been known as devoted to the service of the Lord. Nor do we wonder at this,

remembering that they were the immediate descendants of Boaz and Ruth.

As we follow Samuel to Bethlehem, we seem to mark the same primitive simplicity and life of piety as of old.

When the, "elders" hear of Samuel's coming, they go to meet him, yet with fear lest the unexpected visit

betoken some unknown sin resting on their quiet village. This apprehension is removed by Samuel's

explanation, and they are invited to attend the "sacrifice." But the sacrificial meal which usually followed

was to be confined to Jesse and his family, in whose house, as we infer, Samuel was a welcome guest. It

would appear that Samuel himself was not acquainted with all that was to happen, the Lord reserving it for

the proper moment to point out to His servant who was to be Israel's future king. And this, as we judge,

partly because the aged prophet had himself a lesson to learn in the matter, or rather to unlearn what of the

ideas of his time and people unconsciously clung to him.