Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself." Now the LORD said to SamuelThis opening phrase sets the stage for divine intervention. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This is a reminder that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, speaking directly to His prophet, Samuel. The personal communication underscores the intimate relationship between God and His chosen servants. How long will you mourn for Saul
Mourning in ancient Israel was a profound expression of grief, often involving weeping, fasting, and wearing sackcloth. Samuel's mourning for Saul indicates his deep sorrow over Saul's failure as king. The Hebrew root for "mourn" is "אבל" (aval), which conveys a sense of lamentation and loss. This question from God challenges Samuel to move beyond his grief and align with God's purposes. since I have rejected him as king over Israel
The rejection of Saul is a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The Hebrew word for "rejected" is "מאס" (ma'as), meaning to despise or refuse. This divine rejection is not arbitrary but a response to Saul's disobedience and failure to uphold God's commands. It highlights the seriousness of covenantal faithfulness and the consequences of turning away from God's instructions. Fill your horn with oil and go
The horn filled with oil symbolizes anointing, a sacred act of consecration. In ancient Israel, oil was used to anoint kings, priests, and prophets, signifying the Holy Spirit's empowerment and setting apart for divine service. The command to "go" indicates urgency and obedience, as Samuel is called to participate in God's unfolding plan. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, a small town in Judah, holds significant historical and prophetic importance. It is the birthplace of David, Israel's greatest king, and later, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The mention of Jesse, David's father, roots the narrative in a specific family line, fulfilling God's promises and foreshadowing the Messianic lineage. for I have chosen for Myself a king among his sons
The phrase "I have chosen" reflects God's sovereign will and divine election. The Hebrew word "ראה" (ra'ah) means to see or select, indicating God's foreknowledge and purpose. Unlike Saul, who was chosen by the people's demand, this new king is selected by God Himself, ensuring that he aligns with God's heart and mission for Israel. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe sovereign God of Israel, who directs the events and chooses leaders according to His divine will. 2. SamuelA prophet and judge of Israel, who anointed Saul as king and is now tasked with anointing a new king. 3. SaulThe first king of Israel, rejected by God due to his disobedience. 4. JesseA resident of Bethlehem, father of David, from whose sons God has chosen a new king. 5. BethlehemA small town in Judah, significant as the birthplace of David and later, Jesus Christ. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in LeadershipGod is in control of who leads His people. He chooses leaders based on His purposes and plans, not human criteria. Obedience Over TraditionSamuel's task to anoint a new king despite Saul still being on the throne shows that obedience to God’s command is more important than adhering to human traditions or expectations. God's TimingSamuel is instructed to stop mourning and take action, reminding us that there is a time to grieve and a time to move forward in obedience to God’s direction. Faith in God's PlanTrusting in God’s choice, even when it is not immediately clear or logical to us, is crucial. God sees the heart and knows the future. Preparation for ServiceSamuel is told to fill his horn with oil, symbolizing readiness and preparation for the task God has assigned. We must be prepared to act when God calls us. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding God's rejection of Saul help us comprehend His criteria for leadership? 2. In what ways can we discern God's direction in our lives, similar to how Samuel received instructions from the LORD? 3. How can we apply the lesson of moving from mourning to action in our personal spiritual journeys? 4. What does the choice of Bethlehem as the place for the new king's anointing teach us about God's use of seemingly insignificant places or people? 5. How can we ensure that we are prepared and ready to act when God calls us to a specific task or mission? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 15Provides context for Saul's rejection by God due to his disobedience, setting the stage for the events of 1 Samuel 16. Psalm 78:70-72Reflects on God's choice of David, a shepherd, to be king, highlighting God's preference for the humble and faithful. Acts 13:22Paul recounts God's selection of David as a man after His own heart, emphasizing the importance of inner character over outward appearance. Matthew 2:1Bethlehem is noted as the birthplace of Jesus, connecting the lineage of David to the Messiah. People Abinadab, David, Eliab, Jesse, Samuel, Saul, ShammahPlaces Bethlehem, Gibeah, RamahTopics Bethlehem, Bethlehemite, Beth-lehemite, Chosen, Fill, Got, Grieve, Horn, Jesse, Mourn, Mourning, Myself, Oil, Provided, Reigning, Rejected, Samuel, Saul, Seeing, Selected, Sending, Sons, Sorrowing, Till, Vessel, WiltDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 16:1 4654 horn
5257 civil authorities
6232 rejection of God, results
7236 Israel, united kingdom
7741 missionaries, task 1 Samuel 16:1-12 1020 God, all-knowing 1 Samuel 16:1-13 5086 David, rise of
5366 king
6622 choice
6641 election, responsibilities
7735 leaders, political Library The Shepherd-King
'And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt them 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 Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons. 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. 3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Call of David.
"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone."--1 Samuel xvii. 50. These words, which are taken from the chapter which you heard read just now in the course of the Service[1], declare the victory which David, the man after God's own heart, gained over Goliath, who came out of the army of the Philistines to defy the Living God; and they declare the manner of his gaining it. He gained it with a sling and with a stone; that is, by means, which to man might seem weak and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII Of the Joy of a Good Conscience
The testimony of a good conscience is the glory of a good man. Have a good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy. A good conscience is able to bear exceeding much, and is exceeding joyful in the midst of adversities; an evil conscience is ever fearful and unquiet. Thou shalt rest sweetly if thy heart condemn thee not. Never rejoice unless when thou hast done well. The wicked have never true joy, nor feel internal peace, for there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.(1) And if they say …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Early Days
The life of David is naturally divided into epochs, of which we may avail ourselves for the more ready arrangement of our material. These are--his early years up to his escape from the court of Saul, his exile, the prosperous beginning of his reign, his sin and penitence, his flight before Absalom's rebellion, and the darkened end. We have but faint incidental traces of his life up to his anointing by Samuel, with which the narrative in the historical books opens. But perhaps the fact that the story …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David And He had Also this Favour Granted Him. ...
66. And he had also this favour granted him. For as he was sitting alone on the mountain, if ever he was in perplexity in his meditations, this was revealed to him by Providence in prayer. And the happy man, as it is written, was taught of God [1112] . After this, when he once had a discussion with certain men who had come to him concerning the state of the soul and of what nature its place will be after this life, the following night one from above called him, saying, Antony, rise, go out and look.' …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon then hath the light shined. C ontrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Christ Crowned, the Fact
"When God sought a King for His people of old, He went to the fields to find him; A shepherd was he, with his crook and his lute And a following flock behind him. "O love of the sheep, O joy of the lute, And the sling and the stone for battle; A shepherd was King, the giant was naught, And the enemy driven like cattle. "When God looked to tell of His good will to men, And the Shepherd-King's son whom He gave them; To shepherds, made meek a-caring for sheep, He told of a Christ sent to save them. …
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation The Christian's Book
Scripture references 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 2 Samuel 23:2; Luke 1:70; 24:32,45; John 2:22; 10:35; 19:36; Acts 1:16; Romans 1:1,2; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; James 2:8. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? What is the Bible? How shall we regard it? Where shall we place it? These and many questions like them at once come to the front when we begin to discuss the Bible as a book. It is only possible in this brief study, of a great subject, to indicate the line of some of the answers. …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 16:1 NIV1 Samuel 16:1 NLT1 Samuel 16:1 ESV1 Samuel 16:1 NASB1 Samuel 16:1 KJV
1 Samuel 16:1 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
