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1 Samuel 16 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Samuel loved Saul. He wanted so badly to see him live a fruitful life. But there are moments when God asks us to move on. The time for mourning is over. God had a greater plan.
What do we do when the people we’ve invested in decide to disconnect? It would have been easy for Samuel to doubt God’s plan. It seemed like a dead end. But in that moment, God was firm and steady. Get up Samuel! I have a greater plan.
That greater plan was David.
It is important to note that the text does not indicate David was anointed King over Israel at this time.
“David was anointed (*mšḥ) three times in his life: by Samuel (1Sa 16:13) here at Bethlehem, by the men of Judah to be “a king over the house of Judah” (2Sa 2:4), and by the elders of Israel to be “a king over Israel” (2Sa 5:3).” -NIC Old Testament
New International Commentary – Old Testament
Scripture states that David was filled with the Holy Spirit from that day forward. In the very next verse, we learn that the Holy Spirit departs from Saul, and an evil spirit is sent to torment him. This begs the question, why? Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit when he was anointed as king but he sinned and the Spirit left him. However, we know in future chapters that David will also sin but the Holy Spirit remains. So, what is the difference here?
First, I think that this clearly illustrates the necessity of obedience in our lives. Saul and David were both sinners, however, Saul consistently served himself and David consistently served God. They were moving in opposite directions. It is possible for someone to experience the Spirit of God in their life, yet, choose to follow a path of sin to destruction. Some would argue this point, but I find it difficult to reconcile any other way. The foremost concern regarding Saul, as presented by the writer of 1 Samuel, is that he refused to obey God. God’s reasoning to Samuel was that Saul “turned his back from following Me.”
So, what about David’s sin? Is there a double standard here?
The difference between these two men is found in their response to confrontation. Let me say that again. The difference between the man who followed God and the one who had God’s Spirit removed was found in how each of them responded to the confrontation by God! Nobody wants to be confronted these days. Everyone is offended. And yes, it’s a problem in the church too. When Samuel confronted Saul, he defended himself. He cut corners and called it obedience. He blamed the people and even built a monument of himself. There was no ownership. There was no sorrow. Saul was unteachable.
When Nathan confronted David, he repented. He genuinely confessed his sin and mourned over his choices. David lost a lot. He would have wives taken, relatives and children would die, and his family would live in constant turmoil. But God did not remove His Spirit from David because his heart was truly repentant.
One of the most underrated attributes of a fruitful leader is being teachable. If we stubbornly refuse to have an open heart to our own sinful ways, we will never grow into the leader God has called us to be.