David Anointed King

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

The Disappointment

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”
9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”
10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

Samuel needed the Lord, for his initial viewing of Jesse’s first son was impressive, but misleading. Eliab was handsome, tall, and seemed to have all the outward appearance of the next king of Israel. After all, Samuel did not have a lot of experience in anointing kings, for he had only anointed Saul previously, and he was handsome and tall. The qualifiers were present in Samuels eyes, but not with God.

Reject him!

One of my wife’s favorite phrases from the Old Testament is in this passage.

For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

What does this say to Samuel. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. The appearance of a man can (and usually is?) quite deceptive. Even if the appearance and the character align, in that they are both beautiful, good and right, it is for the Lord to chose whom He may call. Appearance does not factor into the equation.

God looks on the heart.

What does this say about Eliab? Might it reflect specifically on Eliab, or is this simply a general truth for Samuel to understand. It turns out that Eliab was not the purest of souls! Consider 1 Samuel 17:28, where Eliab may expose his general heart condition

Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

Eliab had been rejected, and his little brother had been chosen over him. Anger erupted and Eliab entered into the way of Cain, where the righteous deeds of another was the catalyst for him to enter into jealousy, and rage. We will consider this passage in the future, but for our purposes presently, the Lord saw something in Eliab that was not appropriate for the call to kingship.

It turns out that all of Jesse’s sons were rejected. All those who were present in the little town, those who were with Jesse, simply were not the future chosen king of Israel.

Disappointment and disillusionment must have hit Samuel for a moment. He risked his life to visit this town, and it looked like it was for nothing. Didn’t he request for Jesse to bring his sons? How could he have understood the Lord so poorly?

Are all your sons here Jesse? Is there one that you didn’t bring? Is there any hope that the future king is still a possibility?

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