The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 2,
Subject: Samuel Anoints David, SaIrs Z
XVII, 4-13-Golden Text, Sam. xvi, -
Memory Verses, 11-13-Study Verses
Il

Memory Verses, 11-13-Study VerseP
1-13-Comnentaryo OIL the Days Lesson.
I. Planning for new king Tvs. l.5)-s
was great This showed his affection for
Saul and his interest in the kingdom:
But to continue long in such grief would
hinder him in his public duties as prophet
and also dishonor God. 1t was SamuePs
duty to recognize Gods will as supreme
and not continue to cling to Sa,;l wl m
God had rejected him. The divine cure
for grief is a greater faith in God.
4. "Samnel-came" The Lord told
Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint
one of the sons of Jesse. But Samuel said,
How can ] go? If Saul hear it ne Will
kill me" ". p. The Lord then told SAM.
and sacrifice INTO the Lord. The elders,
Men who acted as civil magistrates.
Troubled" Some think that the breach
between Samuel and Saul was now SO great
that they feared the anger of Saul If they
entertained the prophet; but it seems
more probable that they feared that his
coming was for the purpose Of punistnng
some sin among them, or or pronouncing
some judgment upon them. 'Peaceabiy
If he had come with no hostile purpose his
visit would be considered blessing.
S. 'Sanctify yourselves Change your
clothes, and wash your bodies in pure was
ton, reflection and prayer, that: being I'M
the spirit of sacrifice, We may offer accept
"Jesse and his sons" Samuel himself took
the greatest care in the sancti6cation OF
Jesse's family. Some think the elders
were invited only to join in the sacrifice,
while the family of Jesse were invited by
themselves to the subsequent feast. 1t APP
pears from chapter 20:27.29, that Jesse'g
family were devout religious family.
Samuel instructed them in the nature OF
the sacred ordinance and by his counseis
and prayers assisted them in preparing 70
is probable from the acts and words OF
Samuel on this occasion that he, privately.
informed Jesse of his purpose TO anoint
one of his sons. but it nowhere appears
that Jesse vas informed as to the object
of that amounting. This was left for future
developments to disclose. ~.
II. The Lord chooses DaYid Tvs. 6l2l,S
6. When they were come" After the
public sacrifice there was the sacrincial
feast, and in order. to partake OF this feast
Samuel went to the home Of Jesse Be.
tween the: sacrifice and the feast several
hours would necessarily elapse as the VIC
tim would have to be prepared and cooked.
During this interval the sons of Jesse we're
made to pass before Samuel, for 1t appears
from verse II that David was sent forsbe-
fore they partook Of the meal. ElIab.
Jesse's oldest son. one of Saul's army IN
the Palestine war Il Sam. F:l31. and
afterwards the ruler Of Judah under David.
In Chron. 27:lS he is called Ehhu.4 We
have an exhibition of his rude and over.
bearing temper in Sam. l7:2S. grely =,
etc. Samuel was impressed WITH his
stature and beauty and remembered fhat
Sam. 1929. But the day was past when
kings were chosen because they were bead
and shoulders above the rest. M
7. Look not" etc. Even Semuei was
still judging from outward appearances
"That which chiefly recommended Saul to-
the favor of Israel was his size and beauty,
hut now in selecting a man after his, own
heart Jehovah shows that his divine judg-
ment is based not on external form or
comciiness, but on the inner life. David
also, however, was of goodly appearance
(v. l2). fOn the heart" God does not
look at ones earthly possession, or social
rank, or family history, or literary attain
ments, or natural ability, for He does not
religious manifestations-such as many J,
tears, many prapers, serious department. j.
a solemn tone to the voice, etc; but God
looks on the heart, the inner life, the char
acter. and judges accordingly. =,
$40. Abinadab-Shammah." These
two, with Eliab, were the. sons OF Jesse
sent by war against the Philistinss
(chap. l7:l3). Again" Jesse, no doubt,
brought his sons before Samuel in the
order in which he considered them to rank,
bringing the most likely first. Not chosen
these" David's seven brothers mad passed!
before Samuel and the Lord had refrlsed
them all. This expression implies that
Samuel had ALREADY privately informed
Jesse of the object of his coming. 3
IL. care here all" Samuel was not
ready to give up. He quickly sgrmised
that there might be one overlooked or
counted unfit by the father. jesse had
offered all Of his sons, whom he supposed
were at all likely to suit. But the Lord
had sent Samuel, and the errand could
not be in vain. "The youngest" Jesse
having evidently no idea Of David's WIS
dom and bravery. spoke of MIN as the
most unfit God in His providence 60 or
dered it. that the appointment of David
divine purpose and not the ,desigr either
of Samucl or Jesse. His name signifies
"heoved," and he was an eminent type
of the beloved Son of God. r."Sit down" {;
The word thus rendered means. "to sur
round" and here suggests the sitting down
or reclining around a table Samuel did
not pronosc to have that family gather
round the table of the peace offerings
with one of the sons absent. Here lesson
bearing on family worship may be learned.
u. "Ruddy." The word denotes the
red hair and fair skin which are regarded
as mark OF beauty, in southern countries.
IL. .S1a ron. -
eraily dark. = Beautiful countenance. =
of beautiful eyes. This indicates
that his eyes were keen and penetrating,
enlvened by the fires of genius, and beam !;
ing with a generous warmth. David was
evidently beautiful young man as he
stood there before Samuel. This ls he,
This was Gods choice and Samuel was
commanded to anoint him at once. We
can see here how little stress the Lord
really puts Oh outward forms and cere-
monies, ior David was not present. whe1>
Samuel sanctiGed Jesse's sons with such
great care. -
III. David set apart for his work ".
l3). l3. '!Anointed him David ,was
anointed in the presence Of his brethren,
though it is not at all likely that they I'M {
dsrstood at this time to what position he
wa, being called. 1t is extremely doubtful
if David understood the meaning o. the I,
act Spirit came nightly" Such set Z
ting anaTt would have mighty influence
upon his life. The auointins was not an
empty ceremony but divine power at
tended it, so hat David was inwsrd.y
in wisdom and courage and con-
Germ for the public. with all the quaiihc1,-
tions of a prince. though not at all ad.s
vanced in his outward circumstances. lhe
gift OF the Hoy Spirit Is the greatest anf
Test gift of God to man. =