The Anointing of David

1 Samuel 8,15, 16:1-13;

     The people of Israel had lived for many years in the land God gave them. They had no king. Samuel, the prophet, was judge over Israel, and he made his sons judges, too. But they were not good men like Samuel. They took money from people, and they were proud and selfish.

     The people began to cry out to Samuel, "You are old, and your sons are not good as you are. Who will guide us when you are gone? Give us a king, as other countries have!"

     Samuel was unhappy when he heard these words. God spoke to him and said, "Samuel, listen to these people. It's not you they don't want. They have turned against me. They do not want me for their king. This is like all the other things that they have done, ever since I led them from Egypt."

     Samuel listened as God went on. "Give the people what they want. Kinds will take people's homes and food and animals. They will take children for slaves. When the people hate their king, they will cry out to me about him. But then I will not listen."

     Samuel told the people, but they shut their ears. "We want a king, as other countries have," they shouted.

     So God said, "Give them a king!"

     God told Samuel to take perfumed oil and go to a tall, strong, handsome man named Saul. Samuel anointed Saul by pouring the oil over his head. Then he told Saul that God had called him to be the king over Israel.

     But later Saul disobeyed God. And God told Samuel, "I am sorry I chose Saul." Samuel was angry and cried to the Lord all night. He thought his heart would break.

     Finally, God called to Samuel and said, "Stop thinking about Saul and making yourself unhappy. There will be a new king over my people. Go to a man named Jesse in the city of Bethlehem. One of his sons will be the next king."

     So Samuel went to Bethlehem and found Jesse. They had a great feast, and Jesse called his sons together. One by one, they came to meet Samuel.

    
    "This must be the one!" Samuel thought, as each fine, tall young man came. But God said to Samuel each time, "I don't decide by how strong and handsome they are. I look at their hearts. This is not the one."

     Seven of Jesse's sons came to Samuel, but God did not choose one yet. Samuel asked, "Do you have any other sons?"

     "The youngest son is in the fields with our sheep," Jesse told him.

     "Send for him at once," Samuel said, and someone went to bring the son home. When he came in, Samuel saw a handsome, healthy young man with sparkling eyes. The Lord said, "Samuel, this is the next king of Israel! Get up and anoint him with your oil."

     So Samuel took his horn of oil and anointed the boy's head, in front of his father and brothers. From that day on, this young man was powerfully filed with God's Spirit. His name was David.