Read 1 Samuel 16:1-23

If you were to trace through one of the primary threads of the Bible, you would discover that it has been part of the eternal plan of God to reconcile all things to Himself in Jesus Christ.  Remember that both creation and humanity were impacted and impaired by the fall of man in Genesis 3.  God, however, had anticipated this even before the foundations of the world.  And at the time of mankind’s initial decision to disobey Him, He began to reveal that plan.  Here are just a few of the prophecies leading up to 1 Samuel 16:

1. The Savior would come as the offspring of woman, not as a superhero invading the world (Gen. 3:15).
2. The Messiah would come as a descendant of Shem (Gen. 9:26, 27).
3. He was to come as a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:1-3).
4. Though an Israelite, He would be the conduit of blessing to all nations (Gen. 12:1-3).
5. He was to be a descendant of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12).

I suppose we could have predicted from the outset that things would not work out with Saul.  After all, he was from the tribe of Benjamin.  But as God directs Samuel once again to take up his anointing oil, he directs him to the insignificant town of Bethlehem, to the family of Jesse from the tribe of Jerusalem.  True to form, God’s choice of the next king and of the next milestone person in the lineage of the Savior was not necessarily the logical one.  In fact, it may have been almost frustrating to Samuel.  God had warned him about looking at outward appearance because He was looking at the heart (v. 7).  Indeed the sons of Jesse all passed by Samuel without any green light from God.  Finally, there was but one left . . . and he was the youngest, the least likely, the one out in the field tending sheep.

But David was God’s anointed!  Though he was not the Messiah, he was the next chosen king of Israel.  And from his house and upon his throne the One Messiah would one day reign (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

God is leading all things towards the completion of His eternal plan.  You can trust Him.

Steve Kern