March 31 Daily Devotional

1 Samuel 16

The Lord said to 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.” 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 unto the Lord. 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 did so; he came to Bethlehem. The elders of the town were alarmed at his coming, and said. “Comest thou peaceably?” He replied, “Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he invited Jesse and his sons to the worship.

Jesse had eight sons, seven of them he brought to the sacrifice. The youngest was left to take care of his father’s sheep near Bethlehem. When Eliab, the oldest, came, Samuel thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” For Eliab was a tall, handsome man. But the Lord said to 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.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, Shamma, and the others that were present. All seven sons appeared before Samuel, and he said, “The Lord hath not chosen these … Are here all thy children?” Jesse replied, “There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.” After a short while the lad was brought in. His name was David. He was a good looking boy, with fresh cheeks and bright eyes. As soon as he came, the Lord said to Samuel, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers.

At about this time Saul became unhappy and gloomy, because he was no more at peace with God. His servants noticed that mu­sic had a favorable influence on him, so that the gloom passed away, and he became more cheerful. One day he said to his servants, “Provide me a man that can play well, and bring him to me.” One of the servants suggested, “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.” Then Saul sent a message to Jesse, “Send me David thy son which is with the sheep.” So David came to Saul and he found favor in his sight. Saul loved him greatly, so that he made him his armor-bearer. When the spirit of gloom came upon Saul, David played his harp and the king was refreshed.