“The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mournfor Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 1 Samuel 16.1-4
We know from the previous chapter 15 that God has completely rejected Saul as king over Israel. Therefore, it’s time to pick a new one. Thus begins the reign of one of the greatest kings over Israel, David. But before his anointing, Samuel is sent to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, where kings are apparently born and made (i.e. Jesus and David are both from there) to select one of the sons to be chosen king.
But Samuel is worried about King Saul and rightly so. Saul is not nice and he no longer is acting for the Lord. God has rejected him but he still sits on the throne. So the Lord instructs Samuel to go to Jesse and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” No one can argue with that, even Saul. He is to invite Jesse and all his sons to the sacrifice. Then, says the Lord, “You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” So Samuel shows up and does this very thing. He arrives at Bethlehem and the elders trembled when they met him. Samuel was a big deal.
God’s assignment to Samuel was not simple. It was filled with political tension and was actually very dangerous. God could have killed off King Saul before anointing David but this wasn’t how the Lord wanted to do things. In the midst of the difficulty, Samuel was forced to continue to rely upon the Lord.
The next entry and scripture passage will get us more deeply into David’s anointing and his selection, but today we focus upon the reliance of Samuel upon God. Once again Samuel is asked to serve God and trust him completely. Although the task was difficult, Samuel proved himself worthy in being faithful.
What is God calling us to do? How reliant are we upon his will? Do we trust him? Can we be trusted by him? A life dedicated to God is one God takes responsibility for, but we are also asked to be faithful.
What’s your assignment this day? Will you trust God wholeheartedly to get you to where you need to be?
“O Lord God, you are faithful. Even when I stumble and fall, you pick me up, forgive my sins, cleanse me once again. Thank you Lord for this life. Fill me with your power and love. Send your Holy Spirit upon your people that we might know the truth of your Gospel and be willing to join you in your work. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen