Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-31
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
August 2.
Subject: Samuel Anoints David, Sam. XVI,
4-l3-GoIden Text, Sam. xvi, MEM
DRY Verses, ll.l3-Study Verses l'l3
Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

|
was great. This showed his affection fo'
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 SamuePt
duty to recognize Gods will as supreme
| and not continue to cling to Saul when
God had rejected him The divine cure
for grief is greater faith in God. :,
a. "Samuel-came." The Lord told
Samuel to 60 to Bethlehem and anoint
one of the sons of Jesse. But Samuel said
How can 1 go? If Saul hear it he will
kill me- ". q. The Lord then told Sam
and sacrifice unto 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 Furnishing
some sin among Them, or OF Rronoun1elng}
some judgment upon them. "Peaceably.'
If he had come with no hostile purpose his
visit would be considered blessing -
clothes, and wash your bodies in pure wa
ter, and prepare your minds by media,
ton, reflection and prayer. that. being in
the spirit of sacrifice, We may offer accept
ably to the Lord See Elk. 1914, Is.
Jesse and his sons" Samuel himself took
tie greatest care in the sanctifcation of
Jesses 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 ap-
pears from chapter 20:27-29, that Jesse $
family were a devout religious family:
Samuel instructed them in the nature of
the sacred ordinance and by his counse.s
and prayers assisted them in preparing to
attend to it acceptably and proitably. 1t
is probable from the acts and words of
Samuel on this occasion that he privately
informed Jesse of his purpose to anoint
ore of his sons. but it nowhere appears
that Jesse was informed as to the object
of that amounting. This was left for future
developments to disclose.
ii. The Lord chooses David Tvs. 6-l2).
6. when they were come" After the
public sacrifice there was the sacri6cial
feast, and i'll order to partakc of this feast
Samuel went to the home of Jesse. Be-
tween the sacrifice and the feast several
hours would necessarily e,apse as the vic.
tim would have to be prepared and cooked
During this interval the sons of Jesse were
made to pass before Samuel, for it appears
from verse IL that David was sent for be.
fore they partook of the meal. "Eliab."
Jesse's oldest son. one of Saul's army in
the Palestine war Il Sam. l7:l3). and
afterwards the ruler of Judah under David.
In l Chron. 27:lS he is called Eiihu. We
have an exhibition of his rude and over:
bearing temper in / Sam. l7:2S. Surely"
etc. Samuel was impressed with his
stature and beauty and remembered that
Saul had been similarly recommended 4
Sam. 1920. But the day was past when
l.; oh fhot, od
and shoulders above the rest"
T. "Look not" etc. Even Samuel wa1
still judging from outward appearances,
"That which chiefly recommended Saul to
the favor of Israel was his size and beauty.
but now in selecting a man after his own
heart Jehovah shows that his divine judg
ment is based not on external form OF
comeliness, but on the inner life. David
also, however, was of goodly appearance"
". l2). 'On the heart" God does no,
look at ones earthly possession, or social
rank, or family history, or literary attain
ments, or natural ability, for He does not
judge from appearances, not even from
religious manifestations-such as many
tears, many prapers, serious department,
a solemn tone to the voice, etc; but God
looks on the heart, the inner life, the char
acter, and Judges accordingly.
two, with Eliab, were the sons of Jesse
sent by war against the Philistines
(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 E:others had passed
before Samuel and the Lord had refused
them all. This expression implies that
Samuel had already privately informed
Jesse of the object Of his coming.
IL. care here ALL" Samuel was not
ready to give up. He quickly surmiscd
that there might be one overlooked O.!
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 him as the
most unfit. God in His providence so or.
dered it, that the appointment of David
might the more clearly appear to be
divine purpose and not the design either
of Samuel or Jesse. His name signifies
beloved" and he was an eminent type
of the beloved Son of God. est down."
The word thus rendered means "to sur.
round" and here suggests the sitting down
or reclining around a table. Samuel did
round the table of the peace offerings
with one of the sons absent. Here lesson
bearing on family worship may be learned
II. "Ruddy." The word denotes the
red hair and fair skin which are regarded
as a mark of beauty in southern countries,
where the hair and complexion are gen.
orally dark Beautiful countenance."
Literally, of beautiful eyes. This indicates
that his eyes were keen and penetrating,
enlivened by the fires of genius, and beam
ing with generous warmth. David was
evidently a beautiful young man as he
stood there before Samuel. "This is 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 on outward forms and cere-
monies, for David was not present when
Samuel sanctihed Jesse's sons with such
great care.
III. David set apart for his work ".
49,. Is. "Anointed him." David was
anointed in the presence of his brethren,
though it is not at all likely that they I'M
derstood at this time to what position he
was being called 1t is extremely doubtful
if David understood the meaning of the
act. Spirit came nightly" Such a set
ting apart would have mighty influence
upon his life. The amounting was not an
empty ceremony, but divine power at
tended it. so that David was inwardly
advanced in wisdom and courage and con-
Germ for tn. public, with all the qualifca.
tions of a prince, though not at all ad-
vanced in his outward circumstances. The
gift of the Holy Spirit is the greatest and
best gift Of God to man.