Audio Download

1 Samuel 16:1–23 David Anointed King

[Study Aired April 27, 2026]

Today’s study begins the story of David, who became the king of Israel. The study can be divided into three parts. The first part has to do with the Lord commissioning Samuel to anoint a king from among the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem to replace Saul.  The second part shows how the Lord chose David from among the sons of Jesse. The third section has to do with Saul being possessed by an evil spirit and therefore requiring David to play the harp to relieve him.

The Lord Commissioning Samuel to anoint a King

1Sa 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 Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 

This verse shows us how Samuel continued to mourn the rejection of Saul as king. Inasmuch as we feel the pain of losing a brother or sister, we must continue to focus on the race that is marked out for us since our brother or sister’s rejection is all of the Lord. 

Verse 1 also indicates that to be sent by the Lord requires that we fill our horn with oil. Horn in the Bible signifies strength on a positive note, and oil is a symbol of the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, the sending of Samuel means that as the Lord’s elect, we must be strengthened by His spirit. 

Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  

The verse above also implies that as the Lord’s elect, denoted by Samuel, we must go to the house of bread (the meaning of Bethlehem) or the church of the Lord’s elect in order to be anointed as king, through what every joint supplies. Since only one of the sons of Jesse is to be anointed as king, this shows us that many are called but few are chosen in this age to be kings. We are therefore privileged to be called and chosen in this age. 

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

It is instructive to note that the name Jesse means ‘I possess.’ It is the Lord who possesses or rules over the church of the Lord’s elect. 

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

1Sa 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. 
1Sa 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. 

Samuel was going to anoint a successor to Saul. However, the fact that Saul was still the king of Israel means that what Samuel was going to do would create a major problem. The Lord therefore gave Samuel the wisdom to go to Jesse requesting him to accompany him for a sacrifice. It was during this sacrifice that David would be anointed. These verses therefore suggest that we must apply wisdom from the Lord to guide us in executing our God-given mandate here on earth. 

Pro 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 
Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

According to the word of the Lord, wisdom is defined as the fear of the Lord. This fear of the Lord entails applying knowledge to live righteously and therefore avoid evil. In the verses under discussion, Samuel applied the knowledge (wisdom) that the Lord had given to him to avoid evil. 

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Here in Proverbs 9:10, the Lord is showing us that the knowledge that He has given us must result in our understanding of how we are to avoid evil in every circumstance we encounter. That was exactly what happened to Samuel. He applied the wisdom or the knowledge from the Lord to avert a crisis.

The fact that the Lord told Samuel that He would show him what he should do as he invited Jesse to join him in sacrificing to the Lord, is to make us understand that the Lord does not give us the full picture of what we are to do. He takes us step by step, and in so doing we learn to become dependent on him.

1Sa 16:4  And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 
1Sa 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. 

A key takeaway from these verses is that if we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifice unto the Lord, then it behooves us to sanctify ourselves, as we see Samuel enjoining the elders, Jesse and his sons to sanctify themselves. To sanctify means to be holy or set apart for the Lord. In one sense, the work of sanctification is the work of the Lord. 

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  

In another sense, we must sanctify ourselves, for the Scripture commands us to be holy.

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 
1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

The question is, “how can we sanctify ourselves?” The word of the Lord shows us what we have to do. We are cleansed or sanctified by the washing of water by the word. In other words, we are sanctified as our understanding is enlightened by the truth of the Lord’s word. The fire of the word of the Lord has the cleansing power to destroy our old man or flesh and make us holy or sanctified, such that we can offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord. This fire is our judgment. We can see therefore, that we bring nothing to the table and that our sanctification is all the work of the Lord. 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

1Sa 16:6  And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. 
1Sa 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. 
1Sa 16:8  Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 
1Sa 16:9  Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 
1Sa 16:10  Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 
1Sa 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 rejection of each of the seven sons of Jesse to become a king of Israel by Samuel under the guidance of the Lord, signifies the complete rejection of all of the old testament prophets up to John the Baptist, in favor of the Lord’s disciples to date, who are destined to become kings in the fullness of time. 

1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Samuel’s admiration of the stature and the countenance of the eldest son, Eliab, signifies our admiration of the law of Moses, when we came out of the world (Egypt). All the Old Testament prophets were in admiration of the law of Moses until Christ came. The following verses show the beauty of the law of Moses which was our school master, until faith came through Christ:

Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 
Psa 19:8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 
Psa 19:9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 
Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psa 119:72  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. 

However, the Lord’s rejection of Eliab and the other sons of Jesse signifies that without us, His elect, they (the prophets) would not be made perfect. 

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 

In another perspective, the rejection of the seven sons of Jesse in favor of the youngest is made clear in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, where many went early and worked hard, but it was the few who went late in the eleventh hour, who were paid first. In this study, it was David, the youngest, who received his wages first of becoming a king of Israel, as we shall see later. 

Mat 20:8  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 
Mat 20:9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 
Mat 20:11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 
Mat 20:12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 
Mat 20:13  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 
Mat 20:14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 
Mat 20:15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 
Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 

David Chosen and Anointed

1Sa 16:12  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 
1Sa 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. 

When David came before Samuel, he had a healthy complexion, attractive eyes, and a handsome appearance. He was chosen by the Lord among his brothers to become a king and was therefore anointed with oil. David represents us, the Lord’s elect, who are promised to reign with Christ in the fullness of time. Just as David was anointed with the spirit of the Lord coming on him, we, His elect, are also given the Holy Spirit of promise, which is to make sure that we will be given what the Lord has promised us – our inheritance. 

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.   

David in Saul’s Service

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 
1Sa 16:15  And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 

When a brother or sister becomes disobedient to the Lord and falls away, such a person is possessed by an evil spirit from the Lord, which troubles him or her. Just as the words of the Lord are spirit, false doctrines are also spirits from the devil. Therefore, Saul being troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord, means that those who fall away are troubled by the false doctrines in their hearts and minds. 

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;    

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 
Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

1Sa 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. 
1Sa 16:17  And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 
1Sa 16:18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, 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.

In verse 16, we see that a brother or sister who falls away, can be restored only by a cunning player on an harp. We all started well at the early stages of our walk with Christ before we fell away through false teachers and apostles, parading in the corridors of the church system of this world. 

Gal 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 
Gal 5:8  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 
Gal 5:9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

In the Book of Revelation, we are shown that it is the Lord’s elect who are cunning players of the harp. This implies that it is a brother or sister, who is an elect, who can restore a brother or a sister who falls away. Here in Revelation 14:2, it is the voice of the harpers which can restore a brother or sister. This voice is the truth of the Lord’s word which as hail, destroys the false doctrines in our heavens or hearts and minds.

Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 

In verses 17 and 18, the search for a harper or the Lord’s elect, ended up in Jesse’s house in Bethlehem. As indicated earlier in the study, Jesse means “I possess” and Bethlehem denotes “house of bread.” The house of bread signifies the church of the Lord’s elect which is the Lord’s possession. This shows us that it is in the assembly of the Lord’s elect that harpers can be found, who represent the Lord’s firstborn or His redeemed.

The description of the cunning harper is that he must be skillful in playing the harp, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, a man of good presence, and the LORD being with him. That is the description of the Lord’s elect. We may think we are not up to these standards highlighted, but that is how the Lord sees us!  Inasmuch as we are not to think highly of ourselves, we must see how the Lord sees us – because He sees the end from the beginning.  

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:    

1Sa 16:19  Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 
1Sa 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. 
1Sa 16:21  And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 
1Sa 16:22  And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 
1Sa 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. 

David being with the sheep in verse 19, spiritually signifies that he was with the assembly of the Lord’s elect. As we continue to study to show ourselves approved of the Lord like David, He will use us at the right time, to deliver those to whom He sends us, from evil spirits or false doctrines. 

Verse 20 shows us that David did not go to Saul empty-handed. His father, Jesse, supplied him with a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat to be sent to Saul.  This is to show us that the Lord gives us the appropriate words (bread and wine) and the means to minister effectively on His behalf. 

Mat 10:20  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

When David came to Saul in verse 21 and 22, Saul loved him greatly and found favor in his sight. This is to make us aware that the Lord will grant us favor in the sight of men at the appropriate time to help us. For example, when the Israelites were planning to kill Paul, the Lord granted him favor in the sight of the chief captain who asked his men to protect him on his journey to Felix, the governor.   

Act 23:23  And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
Act 23:24  And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

As indicated in a previous study, an armor bearer signifies all those that the Lord brings our way to help or encourage us with our walk with Christ. David becoming the armor bearer of Saul is to help Saul overcome the evil spirits or the false doctrines in his heart and mind. In verse 23, through the ministration of David, Saul was relieved of the evil spirits. It shows us our role as the Lord’s elect in helping destroy the false doctrines in our brothers and sisters’ hearts and minds through what every joint supplies. 

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

Amen!