1 Samuel 16

1 Y DIJO Jehová á Samuel: ¿Hasta cuándo has tú de llorar á Saúl, habiéndolo yo desechado para que no reine sobre Israel? Hinche tu cuerno de aceite, y ven, te enviaré á Isaí de Beth-lehem: porque de sus hijos me he provisto de rey.

2 Y dijo Samuel: ¿Cómo iré? Si Saúl lo entendiere, me matará. Jehová respondió: Toma contigo una becerra de la vacada, y di: A sacrificar á Jehová he venido.

3 Y llama á Isaí al sacrificio, y yo te enseñaré lo que has de hacer; y ungirme has al que yo te dijere.

4 Hizo pues Samuel como le dijo Jehová: y luego que él llegó á Beth-lehem, los ancianos de la ciudad le salieron á recibir con miedo, y dijeron: ¿Es pacífica tu venida?

5 Y él respondió: Sí, vengo á sacrificar á Jehová; santificaos, y venid conmigo al sacrificio. Y santificando él á Isaí y á sus hijos, llamólos al sacrificio.

6 Y aconteció que como ellos vinieron, él vió á Eliab, y dijo: De cierto delante de Jehová está su ungido.

7 Y Jehová respondió á Samuel: No mires á su parecer, ni á lo grande de su estatura, porque yo lo desecho; porque Jehová mira no lo que el hombre mira; pues que el hombre mira lo que está delante de sus ojos, mas Jehová mira el corazón.

8 Entonces llamó Isaí á Abinadab, é hízole pasar delante de Samuel, el cual dijo: Ni á éste ha elegido Jehová.

9 Hizo luego pasar Isaí á Samma. Y él dijo: Tampoco á éste ha elegido Jehová.

10 E hizo pasar Isaí sus siete hijos delante de Samuel; mas Samuel dijo á Isaí: Jehová no ha elegido á éstos.

11 Entonces dijo Samuel á Isaí: ¿Hanse acabado los mozos? Y él respondió: Aun queda el menor, que apacienta las ovejas. Y dijo Samuel á Isaí: Envía por él, porque no nos asentaremos á la mesa hasta que él venga aquí.

12 Envió pues por él, é introdújolo; el cual era rubio, de hermoso parecer y de bello aspecto. Entonces Jehová dijo: Levántate y úngelo, que éste es.

13 Y Samuel tomó el cuerno del aceite, y ungiólo de entre sus hermanos: y desde aquel día en adelante el espíritu de Jehová tomó á David. Levantóse luego Samuel, y volvióse á Rama.

14 Y el espíritu de Jehová se apartó de Saúl, y atormentábale el espíritu malo de parte de Jehová.

15 Y los criados de Saúl le dijeron: He aquí ahora, que el espíritu malo de parte de Dios te atormenta.

16 Diga pues nuestro señor á tus siervos que están delante de ti, que busquen alguno que sepa tocar el arpa; para que cuando fuere sobre ti el espíritu malo de parte de Dios, él taña con su mano, y tengas alivio.

17 Y Saúl respondió á sus criados: Buscadme pues ahora alguno que taña bien, y traédmelo.

18 Entonces uno de los criados respondió, diciendo: He aquí yo he visto á un hijo de Isaí de Beth-lehem, que sabe tocar, y es valiente y vigoroso, y hombre de guerra, prudente en sus palabras, y hermoso, y Jehová es con él.

19 Y Saúl envió mensajeros á Isaí, diciendo: Envíame á David tu hijo, el que está con las ovejas.

20 Y tomó Isaí un asno cargado de pan, y un vasija de vino y un cabrito, y enviólo á Saúl por mano de David su hijo.

21 Y viniendo David á Saúl, estuvo delante de él: y amólo él mucho, y fué hecho su escudero.

22 Y Saúl envió á decir á Isaí: Yo te ruego que esté David conmigo; porque ha hallado gracia en mis ojos.

23 Y cuando el espíritu malo de parte de Dios era sobre Saúl, David tomaba el arpa, y tañía con su mano; y Saúl tenía refrigerio, y estaba mejor, y el espíritu malo se apartaba de él.

1 Samuel 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Samuel sent to Bethlehem to Jesse. (1-5) David is anointed. (6-13) Saul troubled with an evil spirit, is quieted by David. (14-23)

Verses 1-5 It appears that Saul was grown very wicked. Of what would he not be guilty, who durst think to kill Samuel? The elders of Bethlehem trembled at Samuel's coming. It becomes us to stand in awe of God's messengers, and to tremble at his word. His answer was, I come peaceably, for I come to sacrifice. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full assurance that he came peaceably, for he came to sacrifice, and he brought his offering with him; A body hast thou prepared me. Let us sanctify ourselves, and depend upon His sacrifice.

Verses 6-13 It was strange that Samuel, who had been so disappointed in Saul, whose countenance and stature recommended him, should judge of another man by that rule. We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of characters; but the Lord values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. And God does not favour our children according to our fond partiality, but often most honours and blesses those who have been least regarded. David at length was pitched upon. He was the youngest of the sons of Jesse; his name signifies Beloved; he was a type of God's beloved Son. It should seem, David was least set by of all the sons of Jesse. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. His anointing was not an empty ceremony, a Divine power went with that instituted sign; he found himself advanced in wisdom and courage, with all the qualifications of a prince, though not advanced in his outward circumstances. This would satisfy him that his election was of God. The best evidence of our being predestinated to the kingdom of glory, is, our being sealed with the Spirit of promise, and experience of a work of grace in our hearts.

Verses 14-23 Saul is made a terror to himself. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by the Divine permission, troubled and terrified Saul, by the corrupt humours of his body, and passions of his mind. He grew fretful, peevish, and discontented, and at times a madman. It is a pity that music, which may be serviceable to the good temper of the mind, should ever be abused, to support vanity and luxury, and made an occasion of drawing the heart from God and serious things. That is driving away the good Spirit, not the evil spirit. Music, diversions, company, or business, have for a time often been employed to quiet the wounded conscience; but nothing can effect a real cure but the blood of Christ, applied in faith, and the sanctifying Spirit sealing the pardon, by his holy comforts. All other plans to dispel religious melancholy are sure to add to distress, either in this world or the next.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 16

In this chapter Samuel is ordered to anoint a king among the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem, 1Sa 16:1-5 all whose sons were made to pass before him, excepting David, 1Sa 16:6-10 who being then with his father's sheep, was sent for and was anointed, 1Sa 16:11-13, after which the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and he became melancholy, and it was advised to seek out a musician for him, and David was mentioned to him as a proper person, 1Sa 16:14-18 upon which he was sent for, and acted as a musician to Saul, and also became his armourbearer, which was the first rise of him, 1Sa 16:19-23.