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ultimately in control. Finally Saul was revealed to the people (I Sam. 10: 17-25). He was
an outstanding man who would appeal to them: "when he stood among the people, he
was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward", a fact which gives
greater point and emphasis to the comment by Jehovah to Samuel at David's first
anointing.
The well known account of David's selection and anointing is found in
I.Sam.xvi.1-13. God's sovereignty over rulers is emphasized in the first verse: Saul is
rejected by Him, and He has already provided Himself a king among the sons of Jesse.
The rulers are provided by God, for Himself. God's choice is frequently of the unlikely.
He chose as His king `the youngest' (11). It was not so much what David was, or did, but
God's choice which made David "the man after God's heart". Both His foreknowledge
and His enabling are involved in this.
Having arrived at Bethlehem, and all the preparations completed, Samuel asks for the
sons of Jesse to be brought before him. When Eliab appeared before him the prophet's
reaction was "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him" (16: 6). Eliab was evidently a
very presentable young man, and the elder son. In the eyes of men, this would more than
qualify him to be chosen.
"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his
stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (16: 7).
Samuel was evidently so impressed with the appearance of Eliab, that he did not wait
to see any of the other sons of Jesse. It is worthy of note, however, that he did not say
"Surely the Lord's anointed is before me"; he recognized that he was merely the
instrument through whom Jehovah would make known His choice. His choice rested on
one Jesse's own family had discounted.
"(Samuel) sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice . . . . . And
Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the
youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep" (16: 5 and 11).
There is an interesting contrast between Saul, who lost his father's sheep, and David,
who kept his father's sheep.
The fact that David was `ruddy and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to
look to (a stripling with handsome eyes, of noble mien)' seems to have been almost
incidental. It is, however, a reminder that however unlikely, God's choice is always the
best.
The principal of God's choice was not `the height of his stature' (7): Saul had been
noted, as we have seen, for `the height of his stature'. It was `the man within', for "the
Lord looketh on the heart". God's choice having been made known to Samuel, he then
anointed David among his family:
"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren" (16: 13).