What happensPermalink
God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the next king from among Jesse’s sons. He assumes Jesse’s firstborn, Eliab, is God’s choice—tall and impressive like Saul—but God says He looks on the heart, not appearance. One by one, Jesse’s sons pass by until the youngest, David, is brought in from tending sheep. God chooses him, and Samuel anoints him. The Spirit of the Lord rushes upon David and departs from Saul, who is tormented by a harmful spirit. At the court’s suggestion, David is brought to play music for Saul, calming him.
Why it mattersPermalink
God raises up the humble and unexpected, continuing His pattern of choosing second sons and overlooked servants. David’s heart, not his stature, qualifies him. Though Saul still rules, God’s Spirit now rests on David, setting in motion a decisive shift in Israel’s future.
Key versePermalink
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 sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”