What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 16:3? Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice • Samuel has just expressed fear that Saul will kill him if he goes to Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:2). God’s instruction to hold a sacrificial feast provides a legitimate, worship-centered reason for Samuel’s visit, much like Samuel’s earlier public sacrifice at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:9). • Bringing Jesse places David’s family under the umbrella of the sacred gathering. This protects them from suspicion, just as Samuel once brought Saul to a sacrificial meal before privately anointing him (1 Samuel 9:12–24). • Throughout Scripture, sacrifices often become settings for revelation—think of Gideon’s offering in Judges 6:19–24 or Solomon’s dedication sacrifices in 1 Kings 8—showing that worship opens hearts to hear God’s voice. and I will show you what you are to do • God promises step-by-step guidance, echoing His words to Abram (“Go … to the land that I will show you,” Genesis 12:1) and to Moses (“Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say,” Exodus 4:12). • Samuel must move forward in faith, trusting that clarity will come in the moment of need. Similar divine direction appears when Philip is told, “Go south …” and only later discovers the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:26–29). • The pattern: obedience first, details later. By withholding full disclosure, God keeps Samuel dependent on Him rather than on human insight, reflecting Proverbs 3:5–6. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate • The phrase “for Me” reminds Samuel that kingship belongs to the LORD; David will be God’s choice, not the people’s (contrast 1 Samuel 8:5). • Anointing symbolizes divine appointment and empowerment (1 Samuel 10:1; Psalm 89:20). Oil marks the body, but the Spirit marks the heart (1 Samuel 16:13). • God’s method underscores His sovereignty: He selects “the one I indicate,” not the eldest or the most impressive (see 1 Samuel 16:7). This principle resurfaces when God chooses unlikely leaders such as Gideon (Judges 6:15) and the apostles (Acts 4:13). summary God instructs Samuel to gather Jesse’s family at a sacrificial feast, promising to guide each step and reveal His chosen king. Samuel’s role is simple: obey, watch, and anoint the one God points out. The verse models worship-centered obedience, moment-by-moment dependence on divine direction, and confidence that the LORD sovereignly raises up leaders for His purposes. |
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