1 Samuel 16
R.C. Sproul · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 16
Sproul - God Chooses Israel’s King 1 SAMUEL 16:1–13 “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature.… For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (v. 7). No discussion of Israel’s monarchy would be complete without a look at David, the most significant king of Israel during the old covenant period. David is a prominent figure throughout Scripture and his importance is developed in the Old Testament and into the New. While Saul was the first king of Israel, his reign was but a brief intermission in God’s design to set a faithful king over His people. Illustrating the old adage, “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it,” the Lord responded to the pleas of the Israelites to give them a king like the other nations (1 Sam. 8:1–10:8). Saul later turned out to be a failure (15:10–11a) and the Lord rejected him, but this should not be a surprise, for our Creator’s order to Samuel that he “obey their voice and make them a king” (8:22) is begrudging compared to His “I have provided for myself a king” in 1 Samuel 16:1. With David, God was not “giving in” to Israel’s request, giving them exactly what they wanted as a judgment on sin (see Rom. 1:24–25); rather, He appointed David to bless His people. The qualities the Lord prized when appointing David to lead His people are not necessarily the characteristics most people think of when they are looking for leaders. We might choose to elect officials based on their foreign policy experience, educational background, past political offices, and other such criteria. Yet while these things are not unimportant, their merit was only secondary when the Lord placed David and his descendants on the throne of Israel. As He told Samuel, the important qualities for a good ruler lie within the heart (1 Sam. 16:7)—that constituent part of the human spirit that is the seat of the intellect, moral judgments, piety, and feelings. When the Lord chose David, He wanted a man who understood his need to be a man “after[God’s] own heart” (13:14). The Lord found this man in David, who was the least of his brothers and a humble shepherd who did not otherwise aspire to greatness (16:8–13). This David was a man after God’s own heart not because he was perfect, but because he was sensitive to the Holy Spirit and knew to repent when he had sinned (2 Sam. 24:10–25; Ps. 51). May the Lord make each of us a man or woman after His own heart. CORAM DEO Living before the face of God -0 Men and women after God’s own heart are sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit and strive not to quench Him as He convicts us of sin and guides us in righteousness. One of the best ways to be sensitive to the Spirit is to study His inspired Word that we might hear Him when He calls. We can also pray and join a church where members and elders alike will encourage us in holiness and even rebuke us for sin, if that becomes necessary. FOR FURTHER STUDY 1 Kings 15:3 1 Chronicles 15:25–29 Matthew 3:13–17 1 Thessalonians 5:19 THE BIBLE IN A YEAR Joshua 15–17 Luke 5:27–39 Henry Blackaby - What God Sees (The Experience) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB) King Saul was a man’s man. He was tall, good looking, and popular, and he came from an influential family (1 Samuel 9:1–2). It was not surprising, then, that God chose him to be the king Israel was begging to have. David, on the other hand, had a few things going against him. He was a shepherd, which was not a respected profession. Today we think of shepherds as kind and gentle, but back then they were considered thieves whose word could not be trusted. Furthermore, as the eighth son in his family, David was a long way removed from the coveted position of eldest son. In his time, the firstborn son received the greatest opportunities for success. David was considered so insignificant in his own home that when the prophet Samuel came to anoint a king, the older brothers were presented, but David was left out in the field watching the sheep! He was the Cinderella of the Old Testament. Fortunately for David (and for us), God doesn’t do things the way people do. We are dazzled by outward appearances. We assume that the strongest person, or the most attractive, or the smartest, is the one who deserves the most honor. God doesn’t think that way; he is far more concerned with the condition of our hearts than with the persona we present to the world. As it happened, for all of Saul’s attributes, he turned out to have a shallow character. He was a selfish man, plagued by anger and jealousy. David would prove to be a far better king than Saul. What’s even better, David would be known as a man after God’s own heart. What an incredible honor for a lowly shepherd boy! But then, that’s the way God does things. What God Sees People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.—1 Samuel 16:7 Read 1 Samuel 16:1–23 Some say the modern age of imageoriented political campaigning began in 1960 with the first televised presidential debate between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. On camera, Kennedy seemed more comfortable than Nixon, whose appearance and awkward manner made him appear less confident to viewers. Beauty may only be skin deep, but we often make judgments about people’s character based solely on their appearance. Saul might have looked the part of a king, but by his actions he was proving to be deficient in faith. God’s choice for Saul’s replacement would be surprising; He chose the least likely of Jesse’s eight sons. When David’s older brother Eliab presented himself to Samuel, the prophet was convinced he was God’s chosen. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him,” the Lord warned. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Sa 16:7). David was the least likely to be selected. He was the youngest of all Jesse’s sons and wasn’t even invited to attend. He was tending the sheep (1Sa 16:10). With the anointing of David, the Holy Spirit departed from Saul and an evil Spirit “from the LORD” tormented him (1Sa 16:14). Some commentators believe this wasn’t a demon but a “spirit of disaster” sent from God. However, the New Testament makes it clear that even the demons can go no further than God allows (Mt. 8:31–32). Whatever its nature, it is clear that the arrival of this spirit was both divine judgment and the means God used to introduce David to Saul and his court. There is much more to godly leadership than image. This is why the qualifications for church leaders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 focus mainly on a person’s character. Leadership is about being as much as it is about doing. “The LORD looks at the heart” (1Sa 16:7). Make today’s key verse the focus of your prayer time. Ask the Lord to show you those things in your life you may consider important, but in reality they are just “the outward appearance. (Courtesy Today in the Word) An Ordinary Man People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 16:1–7 William Carey was a sickly boy, born to a humble family near Northampton, England. His future didn’t look too bright. But God had plans for him. Against all odds, he moved to India, where he brought incredible social reforms and translated the Bible into several Indian languages. He loved God and people, and accomplished many things for God. David, son of Jesse, was an ordinary young man, the youngest in his family. He was seemingly an insignificant shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:11–12). Yet God saw David’s heart and had a plan for him. King Saul had been rejected by God for disobedience. While the prophet Samuel mourned Saul’s choices, God called Samuel to anoint a different king, one of Jesse’s sons. When Samuel saw the handsome, tall Eliab, he naturally thought, “surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (v. 6). However, God’s strategy to select a king was much different than Samuel’s. In fact, God said no to each of Jesse’s sons, except the youngest one. Selecting David as king was definitely not a strategic move from God’s part, or so it seemed at first glance. What would a young shepherd have to offer his community, let alone his country? Dear Lord, thank You that You care more about my heart’s attitude toward You than my outward beauty, possessions, or achievements. Welcome to Estera Pirosca Escobar! Meet all our authors at odb.org/all-authors. God’s priority is your heart. Looks And Life Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 During the first few hours of their 30th college reunion, Mary Schmich and her friends talked mostly about how old their classmates looked. But as the event progressed, their focus began to change. Later, in her Chicago Tribune column, Mary wrote: “Once you get used to the fact that time has robbed every single one of you of something—or added it in the wrong places . . . you stop thinking about looks [and] start talking about life.” So much of our time and attention are devoted to physical appearance that it’s easy to consider it the most important aspect of our lives. But the Bible reminds us that God wants us to see ourselves and others differently. When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1), God reminded him to look deeper than physical characteristics: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature . . . . For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v.7). God looks not at the outward form But what is in the heart; The beauty He is pleased to see, His Spirit can impart. —Hess Our mirrors reflect the outward appearance; God’s mirror reveals the inward condition. 1 Samuel 16:7 THE HEART OF THE MATTER "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 How often are we guilty of leaving God out of our decision-making? Sometimes when we're faced with a choice, the right answer may seem obvious to us and those around us. But if we fail to ask the Lord to help us get to the heart of the matter, we might jump to a wrong conclusion. That's what Samuel did when he set out to anoint Israel's next king. When he was Eliab, Jesse's oldest son, Samuel was sure he had his man. Wrong! In fact, God chose the least likely of Jesse's sons, the youthful David. He was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), but Samuel saw only the outward appearance. Including God in decision-making is a vital principle for churches too. When seeking a new pastor or someone to lead a church ministry, we're tempted to look only at externals. We're concerned with such things as speaking skills, friendliness, and ability to inspire -- and we should be. But if we haven't asked God to get us past appearances to the heart, we haven't looked deep enough. We can't read hearts, but the Lord can. He knows when someone is closely following Him. Not mine -- not mine the choice, In things both great and small, Be Thou my Guide, my Strength, My Wisdom, and my All.- - Bonar If you don't want to end in failure, be sure to begin with God. Best In Show? Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12 Dog shows on TV can be entertaining. The dog owners are impeccably dressed and trot along with their pedigreed pooches as they show off their unique canine beauty. The dogs have been trained to stand confidently with chins lifted high, their shiny coats carefully brushed and styled. To me, they all look like winners. But I wonder sometimes, when their audience is gone, what are these dogs really like? Do they ever relax and let their sleek fur get so matted they’re mistaken for mutts? Does their doggie breath start smelling foul? More important, what are we really like when nobody’s watching? In Matthew 23:2-7, Jesus rebuked those who were interested in how they looked in public rather than how they were seen by God. He wants us to be obedient, faithful, and committed to Him—even when nobody else sees. The Pharisees focused on the way they were perceived by other people. God’s focus is on what we’re like inside. His desire is for us to look like His Son. Just live your life before your Lord, It matters not what others do— Your actions will be weighed by Him Who metes out judgment just and true. —Roe Living for God’s approval is better than living for man’s applause. Hidden Beauty People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 16:1–7 Our children needed a little coaxing to believe that it was worth putting on snorkeling gear to peer beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea off the shore of the island of Tobago. But after they dove in, they resurfaced ecstatic, “There are thousands of fish of all different kinds! It’s so beautiful! I’ve never seen such colorful fish!” Because the surface of the water looked similar to freshwater lakes near our home, our children could have missed the beauty hidden just below the surface. When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king, Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought he had found the right man, but the Lord rejected Eliab. God reminded Samuel that He “does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). So Samuel asked if there were more sons. The youngest boy wasn’t present but caring for the family’s sheep. This son, David, was summoned and the Lord directed Samuel to anoint him. Heavenly Father, thank You for not valuing people based on outward appearances but instead by looking at our hearts. Help me to take the time to see beyond simply what my eyes can see in order to discover true and lasting beauty. God can help me to see the inner beauty in others. Welcome To All! Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-9 A beautifying project on the main road of my town prompted the demolition of a church built in the 1930s. Although the windows of the empty church had been removed, the doors remained in place for several days, even as bulldozers began knocking down walls. Each set of doors around the church building held a message written in giant, fluorescent-orange block letters: KEEP OUT! Unfortunately, some churches whose doors are open convey that same message to visitors whose appearance doesn’t measure up to their standards. No fluorescent, giant-size letters needed. With a single disapproving glance, some people communicate: “You’re Not Welcome Here!” How people look on the outside, of course, is not an indicator of what is in their hearts. God’s focus is on the inner life of people. He looks far below the surface of someone’s appearance (1 Sam. 16:7) and that’s what He desires for us to do as well. He also knows the hearts of those who appear to be “righteous” but are “full of hypocrisy” on the inside (Matt. 23:28). Thank You, Lord, that You welcome all into Your family, and You have welcomed me. Show me how to be as accepting of others as You are. May I reveal Your heart of love. No one will know what you mean when you say, “God is love”—unless you show it. First Impressions For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-7 As I shopped for groceries one day, I was perceived as a thief by one person and a hero by another. As I exited the supermarket, an employee said, “Excuse me, Sir. There are too many unbagged items in your cart.” This is evidently a strategy used by shoplifters. When he saw that they were products too big to be bagged, he apologized and sent me on my way. In the parking lot, a woman glanced at my gold embroidered sportsman’s cap. Mistaking it for a military hat, she said, “Thank you for defending our country!” Then she walked away. The supermarket employee and the woman in the parking lot had each formed hasty conclusions about me. It’s easy to form opinions of others based on first impressions. When Samuel was to select the next king of Israel from the sons of Jesse, he too made a judgment based on first impressions. However, God’s chosen was not any of the older sons. The Spirit told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature” (1 Sam. 16:7). God chose David, the youngest, who looked least like a king. If we could view through eyes of faith The people we meet each day We’d quickly see God’s gracious hand In all who come our way. —D. DeHaan First impressions can often lead to wrong conclusions. Plausible Deniability The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: Psalm 51:1-10 Answering media charges of scandal and impropriety, the guilty politician responded with the plea, “I have no recollection of those events.” It was yet another attempt of a public figure to apply a strategy called “plausible deniability.” This is when individuals try to create a personal safety net for themselves by seeking to convince others that they had no knowledge of the events in question. Someone else gets blamed and becomes the scapegoat for the guilty person’s wrongs. Sometimes Christians have their own kind of plausible deniability. We claim ignorance of our wrong behavior, rationalize, or blame others—but God knows the truth. The Bible tells us: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). This is true whether the heart is pure or if it’s a corrupt heart robed in false claims of innocence. We may fool others who see us only on the outside, but God sees the reality of our hearts—whether good or bad. Dear Lord, be merciful to me; My sin has grieved Your heart; And strengthen my resolve, O Lord, From evil to depart. —D. De Haan We may successfully fool others, but God knows our hearts. Life’s Surprises The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-7 No one watching Britain’s Got Talent (a popular televised talent show) expected much when mobile phone salesman Paul Potts took the stage. The judges looked skeptically at one another when the nervous, unassuming, ordinary-looking chap announced he would sing opera—until Potts opened his mouth. He began to sing Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”—and it was magical! The crowd roared and stood in amazement while the judges sat stunned in tearful silence. It was one of the greatest surprises any such television program has ever had, in large part because it came wrapped in such an ordinary package. In the Old Testament, the rescuer of Israel arrived at the battlefield in a most unlikely form—a young shepherd boy (1 Sam. 17). King Saul and his entire army were surprised when David defeated Goliath and won the day. They needed to learn the way that God looks at people. He said to the prophet Samuel, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (16:7). O Lord, we are so quick to judge, Though much is veiled from sight; Lord, may we see how just You are To guide us in what’s right. —D. De Haan It’s what’s in the heart that counts. Beautiful People The Lord does not see as man sees; . . . the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6 Nowhere in Scripture are we told to value people on the basis of how they look. We shouldn’t measure people’s worth by whether they are good-looking, have beautiful hair and trim bodies, or dress in the finest clothes. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating greasy hair, flabby frames, or drab dress. Nor am I saying that beauty is a vice. But I’m concerned about my own superficial values. I’m prone to judge people by the bone structure in their faces or by the clothes they wear. It’s easy to show partiality to someone who looks sharp and wears the latest fashions. Rather than making it my goal to see as God sees, I tend to respond to the physical, skin-level qualities of a person. A person’s real worth lies far beneath the surface. The Bible tells us, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). It is “the hidden person of the heart” that God values (1 Peter 3:4). Beautiful lives are those that bear For other lives their load of care; Beautiful souls are those who show The love of Christ where'er they go. —Anon. Nothing is more attractive than Christlikeness. An Inside View The Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 16:1-7 Retired physicist Arie van’t Riet creates works of art in an unusual way. He arranges plants and deceased animals in various compositions and then x-rays them. He scans the developed x-rays into a computer and then adds color to certain parts of his pictures. His artwork reveals the inner complexity of flowers, fish, birds, reptiles, and monkeys. An inside view of something is often more fascinating and more significant than an exterior view. At first glance, Samuel thought Eliab looked like he could be Israel’s next king (1 Sam. 16:6). But God warned Samuel not to look at Eliab’s physical traits. He told Samuel, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). God chose David, instead of Eliab, to be Israel’s next king. Dear God, help me to value what You value. As I follow Your example, I pray that You will be pleased with what You see in my heart. The true measure of a person is what’s in the heart. Last Tree On The Lot Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be the last tree on the lot on Christmas Eve? People have passed you by because you were the wrong size or had gnarled branches or a poor shape or your needles were falling. Perhaps you feel like a rejected Christmas tree. You don’t quite measure up to people’s expectations. You think nobody wants you. There’s good news. God doesn’t look at you the way people do. He looks at your heart. When the prophet Samuel was looking for a person who was qualified to be the next king of Israel, Jesse paraded his seven oldest sons in front of him. But the Lord had not chosen any of them. Samuel told Jesse, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v.7). Jesse’s youngest son was out tending the sheep. He wasn’t even being considered. Yet when Samuel found young David, he anointed him as the one to succeed Saul as king of Israel. The Lord saw in David “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22). That I may love Him is my soul's ambition— Love Him with all my mind and strength and heart, Seek out His will and choose it, in submission, And with the joy He only can impart. —Anon. To have a heart for God, give God your heart. Looking Good Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 To a greater or lesser degree, all of us have something about our looks that we don’t like. When we become preoccupied with it, though, there’s a fancy name for it: Body Dismorphic Disorder. It afflicts people who are so dissatisfied with their appearance that they have a difficult time functioning normally. Although we can all find something about ourselves we would like to change, here are a couple of biblical truths to help us be satisfied with the way we are put together. First, we have this comforting assurance: “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). God is far more concerned with how our heart looks than how we look in the mirror. Second, Psalm 139 reminds us that God formed us (vv.15-16) and that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (v.14). God made us the way we are for a reason, and that should give us reason to thank Him. God looks not on the outward form But what is in the heart; The beauty He is pleased to see, His Spirit can impart. —Hess Righteousness in the heart can make any life beautiful. Life’s Surprises The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-7 No one watching Britain’s Got Talent (a popular televised talent show) expected much when mobile phone salesman Paul Potts took the stage. The judges looked skeptically at one another when the nervous, unassuming, ordinary-looking chap announced he would sing opera—until Potts opened his mouth. He began to sing Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”—and it was magical! The crowd roared and stood in amazement while the judges sat stunned in tearful silence. It was one of the greatest surprises any such television program has ever had, in large part because it came wrapped in such an ordinary package. In the Old Testament, the rescuer of Israel arrived at the battlefield in a most unlikely form—a young shepherd boy (1 Sam. 17). King Saul and his entire army were surprised when David defeated Goliath and won the day. They needed to learn the way that God looks at people. He said to the prophet Samuel, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (16:7). O Lord, we are so quick to judge, Though much is veiled from sight; Lord, may we see how just You are To guide us in what’s right. —D. De Haan It’s what’s in the heart that counts. Looking On The Heart 1 Samuel 16:7 Outward appearances can be deceiving. An airline captain who flew international routes also ran a small filling station near his home. Between trips abroad, he got a kick out of changing tires and pumping gas. One morning, dressed in his greasy overalls, he walked down to the local hardware store to pick up a new wrench. "What's new?" the store owner asked. "Oh, I'm thinking of taking the Cairo run this month," the captain said. "I enjoy flying to London and Frankfurt, but I think the change of pace will do me good." He paid for the wrench and left. Another customer asked, "Who's the world traveler?" Rolling his eyes, the store owner said, "Some nut who runs the gas station down the street. Thinks he's an airline pilot!" Both men got a good laugh. The prophet Samuel also learned that outward appearances don't necessarily make the man. David's brothers, who were first interviewed for the job of future king of Israel, were all kingly looking. God, however, knew their hearts were not right and rejected them. It was not until David was brought before Samuel that God found a man "after His own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14). The most important responsibility Christians have is keeping their heart right with God. Physical exercise profits a little (1 Tim. 4:8), and there is certainly nothing wrong with looking clean and neat, but the real test in God's sight is our heart. No matter how "together" we might appear, if our heart is not pure before the Lord, He can't use us to accomplish His will. Are you taking good care of your heart? If it has become spiritually out of shape, apply the 1 John 1:9 principle. Make sure that when God looks at your heart, He likes what He sees. (Courtesy of Back to the Bible) It's the internal, not the external, that affects the eternal. 1 Samuel 16:1-7 Dumb Ox" When Thomas Aquinas began to attend classes at the University of Paris in the 13th century, he seldom spoke up in class. His fellow students thought that his silence meant he wasn't very smart, so they nicknamed him "the dumb ox." His peers must have been surprised when he excelled in his studies and went on to write great works of theology still in use today. Thomas Aquinas was a misjudged genius. How could his classmates have been so wrong? They judged him only by his outward appearance. They didn't really know what he was like on the inside. God had told the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king to rule His people Israel. David the shepherd boy did not appear to be kingly material. His youthfulness did not measure up to the age and stature of his older brother Eliab (1 Samuel 16:6). Yet the Lord corrected Samuel's original perception (1 Samuel 16:7). David would go on to become a great warrior and the Lord's chosen ruler of His people (1 Samuel 13:14; 18:8; 2 Samuel 7:1-17). First impressions can mislead us, For we do not know the heart; We can often be mistaken, Since we only know in part. —Fitzhugh The true measure of a person is what's in the heart. 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." LXE 1 Samuel 16:8 And Jessae called Aminadab, and he passed before Samuel: and he said, Neither has God chosen this one. KJV 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. NET 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one, either." CSB 1 Samuel 16:8 Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. "The LORD hasn't chosen this one either," Samuel said. ESV 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." NIV 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." NLT 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is not the one the LORD has chosen." NRS 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." NJB 1 Samuel 16:8 Jesse then called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, 'Yahweh has not chosen this one either.' NAB 1 Samuel 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel, who said, "The Lord has not chosen him." YLT 1 Samuel 16:8 And Jesse calleth unto Abinadab, and causeth him to pass by before Samuel; and he saith, 'Also on this Jehovah hath not fixed.' Abinadab: 1Sa 17:13 1Ch 2:13 1 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JEHOVAH GUIDES SAMUEL STEP BY STEP Then Jesse called Abinadab (“My Father is noble”) and made him pass before Samuel - And "behind door #2" is Abinadab. From the context, it does not appear that Jesse knew what was transpiring in the mind of Samuel. And he (SAMUEL) said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." - Samuel was now in touch with God's heart on what He was seeking in a king and so he makes this pronouncement. And so as each son stepped forth, God was guiding Samuel step by step to the man after His own heart. Note the verb chosen (repeated from 1Sa 16:8, 9, 10) indicating that God is sovereignly in full control of this selection. 1 Samuel 16:9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one either." BGT 1 Samuel 16:9 καὶ παρήγαγεν Ιεσσαι τὸν Σαμα καὶ εἶπεν καὶ ἐν τούτῳ οὐκ ἐξελέξατο κύριος LXE 1 Samuel 16:9 And Jessae caused Sama to pass by: and he said, Neither has God chosen this one. KJV 1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. NET 1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse presented Shammah. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." CSB 1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The LORD hasn't chosen this one either." ESV 1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." NIV 1 Samuel 16:9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." NLT 1 Samuel 16:9 Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, "Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen." NRS 1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." NJB 1 Samuel 16:9 Jesse then presented Shammah, but Samuel said, 'Yahweh has not chosen this one either.' NAB 1 Samuel 16:9 Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." YLT 1 Samuel 16:9 And Jesse causeth Shammah to pass by, and he saith, 'Also on this Jehovah hath not fixed.' Shammah: 1Sa 17:13 2Sa 13:3, Shimeah, 1Ch 2:13, Shimma 1 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THIRD TIME IS NOT THE CHARM! Next Jesse made Shammah pass by - Clearly Jesse has been instructed in some way by Samuel to bring his sons before the prophet, and here we see son number three. Note in the next chapter that the first three sons were warriors in Saul’s militia army, and yet they were still not God's choice. And he said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one either - We often say the third time is the charm, but with the God of providence, it is not by chance, so Samuel declares that the third son was not Yahweh's choice. Norman Geisler - go to page 147 in When Critics Ask for discussion of 1 Samuel 16:9—What is the correct spelling of the name of David’s brother? PROBLEM: According to 1 Samuel 16:9, the name of David’s brother is “Shammah.” However, in 1 Chronicles 2:13 his name is “Shimea.” Which is the correct spelling? SOLUTION: It is not uncommon for proper names to be spelled differently due to regional patterns of pronunciation. The name in 1 Samuel 16:9 has a double “m.” This may indicate that the region of Judah tended not to pronounce the guttural letter “ayin” which appears in the spelling of the name in 1 Chronicles, and that this was compensated for by the doubling of the “m.” Perhaps this points to the 1 Chronicles spelling as the correct spelling and the 1 Samuel spelling as a reproduction of the pronunciation pattern of the region. (See Appendix 2.) 1 Samuel 16:10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." BGT 1 Samuel 16:10 καὶ παρήγαγεν Ιεσσαι τοὺς ἑπτὰ υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον Σαμουηλ καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ οὐκ ἐξελέξατο κύριος ἐν τούτοις LXE 1 Samuel 16:10 And Jessae caused his seven sons to pass before Samuel: and Samuel said, the Lord has not chosen these. KJV 1 Samuel 16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. NET 1 Samuel 16:10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." CSB 1 Samuel 16:10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, "The LORD hasn't chosen any of these." ESV 1 Samuel 16:10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." NIV 1 Samuel 16:10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." NLT 1 Samuel 16:10 In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." NRS 1 Samuel 16:10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." NJB 1 Samuel 16:10 Jesse thus presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, 'Yahweh has not chosen these.' NAB 1 Samuel 16:10 In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any one of these." YLT 1 Samuel 16:10 And Jesse causeth seven of his sons to pass by before Samuel, and Samuel saith to Jesse, 'Jehovah hath not fixed on these.' seven: 1Ch 2:13-15 1 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 and Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, then Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, 14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; SEVEN THE COMPLETE NUMBER BUT NOT THIS TIME! Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel - How interesting that Scripture often uses the number 7 to refer to something that is complete, but such would not prove to be the case in this situation. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." - So clearly Samuel had told Jesse Yahweh had chosen one of his sons. But there is no indication that Jesse fully comprehends for what purpose Yahweh has chosen (past tense - as good as done) one of his sons. Walter Kaiser - go to page 211 in Hard Sayings of the Bible for discussion of the question - Did Jesse father seven or eight sons? Chronicles says it was seven, but Samuel says it was eight (1 Sam 16:10–11; 17:12–14). Which one is accurate? First Samuel 16 only names four of Jesse’s sons: Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, who is called Shimea in 1 Chronicles, and David. First Chronicles gives the names of three other sons, Nethanel, Raddai and Ozem, but specifies that David is the seventh. What happened to the other unnamed son, that 1 Chronicles 2 totally ignores, is unknown. Some commentators suggest that this unnamed son may have died without any posterity, and therefore his name was not included in the list in Chronicles. The reading of the Syriac lists an Elihu as the seventh son in 1 Chronicles 2:15 and then lists David as the eighth, thereby bringing the two lists in Samuel and Chronicles into harmony with each other. The Syriac reading is based on the Hebrew reading of 1 Chronicles 27:18, where the Septuagint has Eliab instead of Elihu (apparently going with the known name from the list in 1 Samuel). If the Syriac and Hebrew preserve accurate traditions, then Elihu is the son missing from the list of 1 Chronicles 2:15. Gleason Archer - go to page 178 in The Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties for the discussion of the topic - How many sons did Jesse have? First Samuel 16:10–11 makes it eight, but 1 Chronicles 2:13–15 makes it seven. 1 Samuel 16 names only the three oldest brothers of David: Eliab (v.6), Abinadab (v.8), and Shammah (v.9), who is called Shimea in 1 Chronicles 2:13. Yet it does specify that Jesse introduced seven of his sons to Samuel (v.10) before he had the youngest, David, called home from the field (v.11). 1 Chronicles 2:14 gives the names of the other three as Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem, and specifies that David was the seventh. What became of the other son, unnamed in 1 Samuel 16 and totally ignored in 1 Chronicles 2? Delitzsch (Keil and Delitzsch, Chronicles, p.62) suggests that he might have died without posterity; therefore his name was not preserved as late as the period when Chronicles was composed. It may well have been that he died of illness or accident while still a young man, prior to marriage. Since he produced no descendants and contributed no exploits back in David’s time, there was no special reason for retaining him in the later enumeration of Jesse’s sons. The writer of this article had an older brother who died quite young, which would bring up the count of the children to four. Yet after the death of that earlier son, the three surviving children always spoke of themselves as a family of three siblings. Perhaps a similar event happened in Jesse’s family as well. The full number of his sons was eight, but only seven survived and played a role during David’s career. (1 Chron. 2:16 adds that there were two daughters as well, Zeruiah and Abigail. After they were married, their sons played an important role as well in the service of their uncle David.) Norman Geisler - go to page 148 in When Critics Ask for discussion of Did Jesse have eight sons as indicated in this verse, or only seven as indicated in 1 Chronicles 2:13–15? PROBLEM: Although 1 Samuel 16 only names the three oldest brothers of David, verse 10 states that Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel before he brought David out. However, 1 Chronicles 2:13–15 indicates that David was the seventh son of Jesse. How many sons did Jesse have? SOLUTION: The passage in 1 Chronicles records the names of seven sons of Jesse, perhaps because one of David’s brothers died, and his name was not preserved as late as the composing of 1 Chronicles. It is not an uncommon practice for the surviving children to speak of their family in terms of the remaining number, so that any member of a family which would have been composed of eight sons, identifies himself as one of a group of seven brothers. This would very likely be the case in David’s family if the brother had died before marriage, leaving no posterity, and had made no significant contribution during the rise and reign of David. There would have been no reason to retain his name among the genealogical records of the sons of Jesse. QUESTION - How many brothers did King David have? ANSWER - David, Israel’s second king, was the youngest son of Jesse from Bethlehem. In 1 Samuel 17:12–14, Scripture plainly states that Jesse had eight sons, of which David was the youngest. But in 1 Chronicles 2:12–16, the account of David’s family lists only seven sons of Jesse. So, did David have six or seven brothers? The narrative of David’s anointing by the prophet Samuel supports the reasoning that Jesse had eight sons, and thus David had seven brothers: “Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD has not chosen these.’ So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ ‘There is still the youngest,’ Jesse answered. ‘He is tending the sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives. So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one.’ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:10–13). The Bible gives us the names of David’s brothers: Eliab is David’s oldest brother (1 Samuel 16:6; 17:13, 28; 1 Chronicles 2:13). The second born is Abinadab (1 Samuel 16:8; 17:13; 1 Chronicles 2:13). David’s third oldest brother is Shimea (1 Samuel 16:9; 1 Chronicles 2:13). Shimea is alternately spelled Shammah (1 Samuel 17:13) and Shimeah (2 Samuel 13:3). The fourth brother is Nethanel, the fifth Raddai, and the sixth Ozem (1 Chronicles 2:14–15). The chronicler also names two sisters of David: Zeruiah and Abigail (1 Chronicles 2:16). Mysteriously, however, one brother is missing from this list of names, and David—again listed as the youngest here—is called “the seventh” (verse 15). One possibility for the missing brother could be Elihu, who is identified in 1 Chronicles 27:18 as the chief officer over the tribe of Judah and “a brother of David.” But most scholars tend to believe the name Elihu is a variant of Eliab, who was David’s oldest brother. Elihu and Eliab are the same person. Skeptics point to this discrepancy in the number of brothers David had as proof that the Bible has errors and contradictions, and therefore is not to be trusted as reliable. The argument neglects the reality that biblical genealogies often did not include every ancestor in a family line. For example, when a child died without leaving any children, he or she was usually omitted from the record. The passage in 1 Samuel was written in the early days of David’s life, but the genealogy in 1 Chronicles was recorded much later. The chronicler’s primary concern was to preserve Israel’s family records for verifying tribal identity and inheritance rights. Therefore, most Bible scholars deduce that one of David’s seven brothers must have died at a young age without producing any heirs, and was therefore not accounted for in the later genealogical register. So, David had seven brothers and at least two sisters. One of his brothers most likely died before having children.GotQuestions.org Norman Geisler - go to page 148 in When Critics Ask for discussion of 1 Samuel 16:10—Did Jesse have eight sons as indicated in this verse, or only seven as indicated in 1 Chronicles 2:13–15? PROBLEM: Although 1 Samuel 16 only names the three oldest brothers of David, verse 10 states that Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel before he brought David out. However, 1 Chronicles 2:13–15 indicates that David was the seventh son of Jesse. How many sons did Jesse have? SOLUTION: The passage in 1 Chronicles records the names of seven sons of Jesse, perhaps because one of David’s brothers died, and his name was not preserved as late as the composing of 1 Chronicles. It is not an uncommon practice for the surviving children to speak of their family in terms of the remaining number, so that any member of a family which would have been composed of eight sons, identifies himself as one of a group of seven brothers. This would very likely be the case in David’s family if the brother had died before marriage, leaving no posterity, and had made no significant contribution during the rise and reign of David. There would have been no reason to retain his name among the genealogical records of the sons of Jesse. 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." BGT 1 Samuel 16:11 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς Ιεσσαι ἐκλελοίπασιν τὰ παιδάρια καὶ εἶπεν ἔτι ὁ μικρὸς ἰδοὺ ποιμαίνει ἐν τῷ ποιμνίῳ καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς Ιεσσαι ἀπόστειλον καὶ λαβὲ αὐτόν ὅτι οὐ μὴ κατακλιθῶμεν ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν αὐτόν LXE 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jessae, Hast thou no more sons? And Jessae said, There is yet a little one; behold, he tends the flock. And Samuel said to Jessae, Send and fetch him for we may not sit down till he comes. KJV 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. NET 1 Samuel 16:11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Is that all of the young men?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest one, but he's taking care of the flock." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we cannot turn our attention to other things until he comes here." CSB 1 Samuel 16:11 Samuel asked him, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," he answered, "but right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he gets here." ESV 1 Samuel 16:11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." NIV 1 Samuel 16:11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." NLT 1 Samuel 16:11 Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives." NRS 1 Samuel 16:11 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." NJB 1 Samuel 16:11 He then asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' Jesse replied, 'There is still one left, the youngest; he is looking after the sheep.' Samuel then said to Jesse, 'Send for him, for we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives.' NAB 1 Samuel 16:11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here." YLT 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel saith unto Jesse, 'Are the young men finished?' and he saith, 'Yet hath been left the youngest; and lo, he delighteth himself among the flock;' and Samuel saith unto Jesse, 'Send and take him, for we do not turn round till his coming in hither.' There: 1Sa 17:12-15,28 2Sa 7:8 1Ch 17:7 Ps 78:70,71 1 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAMUEL POSSIBLY A BIT CONFUSED? And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" - Jesse's 7 had "struck out," which prompts Samuel's question. Since, Yahweh had told Samuel He would select one of Samuel's sons and yet had not selected the first seven, Samuel, a good "spiritual mathematician," knew that there had to be one or more sons! Samuel knew to trust in the sure Word of LORD and lean not on his own understanding (cf the words of Joshua - Josh 23:14+ God's men trust God's Word regardless of circumstances)! When God says it, that settles it, whether we can understand it or not! And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou), he is tending the sheep."- Note Jesse does not even mention David's name! Jesse's reply is almost like saying, you mean the one we have doing the dirty work? And implicit is that he had not consecrated himself as had the other seven (tending sheep can be dirty, smelly business!) God's ways are higher than our ways! He will pick an unconsecrated man over seven consecrated men. Why? Because He was looking not for external consecration, but for internal consecration, for a holy, set apart heart that was wholly His! That is always and forever the LORD's first choice, a whole heart, a heart after His heart. THOUGHT - How is your heart? Saul-like or David-like, or somewhere in between? Are you holding something back - some secret sin, some other affection, etc? Are you willing to make a Romans 12:1+ presentation of yourself (your whole body, heart and soul) as a living and holy sacrifice (speaks of complete surrender!)? Remember the promise of 2 Chronicles 16:9 that "the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." Lord, for someone reading, let today be the day when they quit hesitating, procrastinating or prevaricating, but instead make a wholehearted presentation of their heart to you, from this day forth being ready to do Your will on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen. If you are pausing, take a moment and ask the Spirit to speak to your heart as listen to Pure Heart. This next song has a little more beat but the words still reflect the Father's heart - Single Heart. (Men, hear especially the line "My eyes forward all the time!"). Pray... Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. -- Psalm 86:11 Alan Redpath comments "So small was David in his father’s esteem that it wasn’t considered necessary to include him in the family when the prophet of God called them to sacrifice....You may not be intellectual or well thought of in your family circle; you may be despised by others for your faith in Christ. Perhaps you had only a little share in the love of your parents, as David did. But remember that those who are rejected of men often become beloved of the Lord.”
1 Samuel 16
Sproul - As we return to our studies in 1 Samuel, the Holy Spirit is departing from Saul after coming upon David (16:13). In His place, a “distressing spirit from the Lord” troubles Saul. What are we to make of these spiritual comings and goings? First, we must say that the Holy Spirit has not been with Saul in the way He will be with David. The Spirit, was bestowed on Saul as upon the judges (Judg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 14:6, 19; 15:14), to empower him for his work. But Saul’s conduct proves that the Spirit did not come upon him savingly; there was no work of regeneration in him. (ED: SEE Was King Saul saved? | GotQuestions.org) Saul became a “partaker of the Holy Spirit” who yet fell away (Heb. 6:4–6), for he remained spiritually dead. “He having forsaken God and his duty, God, in a way of righteous judgment, withdrew from him those assistances of the good Spirit with which he was directed, animated, and encouraged in his government and wars,” Matthew
1 Samuel 16
Sproul - A prominent figure complained about the impact of music upon our young people. This “new music,” he said, “is promoting the moral degeneracy of our adolescents.” We might think this statement was made by someone within the past one hundred years. However, even though this sentiment has been echoed numerous times in recent history, it is actually a quote of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Without question, music has a profound impact on human beings. Though we may differ over just how influential it is, music continues to shape and add color to the most important moments of our lives. Spouses have favorite songs that conjure up happy memories of courtship. Certain compositions are immediately associated with specific holidays or other special occasions. Music can be used to change or reflect different moods. As today’s passage indicates, even biblical heroes used music for this purpose. The principles of proportionality, harmony, simplicity, and complexity introduced yesterday may be nowhere more apparent than when we study music. All sorts of sounds are heard everyday — a jackhammer’s pounding, the singing of a sparrow, the shattering of glass, the fight song played by a marching band. Yet only the second and the last of these examples can be called music. A jackhammer may be noise, but it does not exhibit the variation in tone or progression (proportionality) that the sparrow’s singing does. When glass breaks, it may be possible to determine that it shatters with the tone of A flat. Nevertheless, because this tone does not occur in a sequence (simple or complex), it is not deemed to be musical. In reality, a musical score always follows certain mathematical rules. Certain chords sound harmonious because of their numerical relationship to each other. The artist may not be able to define it with arithmetic, but if the correlation does not adhere to a mathematical system of music, Western or Eastern, the tones only produce noise. If a progression of sounds completely violates the standards of aesthetics, our ears do not hear music. Coram Deo The Psalmist implores us to “make a joyful noise” unto the Lord, but the context makes it clear he is using “noise” as a synonym for music (Ps. 95:1–2). God is pleased when we praise Him with music, whether it be with voice or with the instrument. Do you worship Him eagerly in the public setting whenever it is time to sing? Endeavor this Sunday to sing or play eagerly unto Him, for He is the great God above all the earth.