Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 16

Verses 1-23

We now come to the third section of this Book, throughout which David is the principal figure. It would seem that Samuel had given himself over to the sadness occasioned by Saul's failure. Jehovah rebuked him. Perfect conformity to the will of God forbids any kind of prolonged mourning over human failure. If Saul had failed, God had not, and Samuel was now commissioned to arise and anoint His king.

This time the choice was to be made on an entirely new basis. Israel had had a king of physical magnificence, one likely to appeal to their desire for conformity to the ideals of surrounding nations. Jehovah would now appoint a man after His own heart.

The deterioration of Saul became more marked. The chronicler tells us that "an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him." This is naturally a very arresting and remarkable statement. Its meaning, however, is perfectly clear in its revealing of God's sovereignty of the fact that all the forces of evil, whether they will or no, are still under the government of God.

In preparation for his work as king in the economy of God, David found his way to the court. The occasion of his coming there was the melancholy of the king and his own musical ability. The principal value of this story is its clear revelation of the authority and activity of God in government. Under that government all things are seen moving toward the accomplishment of the divine purpose.