Samuel and David

1 Samuel 16:6-13New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

When they came, (Samuel) looked on (Jesse's son) Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

In the midst of Saul falling apart, Samuel - despite his fears - follows God's instructions and anoints the next king.  Again, it is God who chooses directly.  Again, the future king is put before Samuel and presented to him by God as the choice.

But this time, Samuel has to go through the line of Jesse's sons before he gets to the right one.  Now there has been much made of the fact David was the youngest and perhaps the smallest (though the text doesn't actually say that he was that small).  Like Saul, however, his appearance - his handsomeness - seems to be one of his noticeable qualities.  

And like Saul he is in the midst of doing his chores for his father when he is chosen.  Saul had been searching for his father's donkey's, and now David is tending sheep.  There seems to be - at least initially - some similarities between the two.

And as we found yesterday, for a time, Saul and David would be bound as David was the only one who could soothe Saul's "evil spirit" with his music.  There will be many connections between Saul and David that will come into play, and perhaps lay the foundation as to how these two similar men become two very different kings.

David's anointing is done in private.  It isn't the public coronation that we are used to seeing coming out of Westminster Abbey or some other modern monarchy.  It was done before his family and God, and did not mark the beginning of his public leadership.

In the meantime, God would be equipping David.  Preparing him for what was to come.  It reminds me in some ways of our baptism.  Many of us were probably baptized as infants: not ready yet for the responsibilities that were to come in our journey of faith, yet lifted up by our family - both biological and community of faith - to take part in this priesthood of all believers.  Claimed by God, as David was, even before we were what many might think of as ready.

Our journey can be just as exciting as David's (although hopefully without all the battles and murders and adulteries that were to come!).  God's claim on us comes before we can return the favor.  But God equips and prepares us for the calling and says to us "you are ready" even before we think we are.

Good and gracious God, you have prepared me for this journey of faith.  Help me to hear your call and be ready for service in your great adventure of life!  Amen