自從撒母耳宣佈上帝棄絕了掃羅，掃羅的生命就開始走下坡。上帝的聖靈離開掃羅，掃羅與上帝和撒母耳都愈來愈疏遠了。撒母耳為掃羅悲傷，好像哀悼掃羅之死一樣（15：35）。事實上掃羅的靈一度是活的，但現在他的心剛硬，悖逆上帝，就如同已死一樣。

        掃羅的情況愈來愈糟糕，心智也變得不穩定。在希伯來人的思想裡，個人身上的好事和壞事都是出於上帝，所以掃羅所遭受的痛苦也被稱作是「從耶和華那裡來的惡魔」（16：14）。實際上是因為上帝容許他這樣被干擾。由於上帝的靈不再與掃羅同在，不再使他的身、心、靈有能力，也由於掃羅已經棄絕了上帝，所以他等於敞開自己接受敵人撒但的攻擊。人類天生就需要與上帝建立關係，離了上帝，人類就必定受苦。

        上帝興起另一個合他心意的人取代掃羅作王，使上帝救贖的計畫得以完成。大衛就是上帝所揀選的器皿。撒母耳必須秘密的膏大衛，以防掃羅知情，他怕掃羅會因嫉妒而使用暴力；後來證明撒母耳的擔憂和害怕是有充分的理由（18：10~11；20：33）。撒母耳必須隱瞞此行的目的，因為從撒母耳在拉瑪的家前往伯利恆的路途正好經過掃羅的家鄉基比亞，掃羅一定會知道撒母耳出行的消息。

        當耶西的兒子一個個被帶到撒母耳面前，撒母耳很自然的認為成熟、高大、英俊的長子以利押是上帝所揀選的王。不過上帝指示撒母耳，祂不像人看人，人是看外貌，但耶和華是看內心。揀選權完全在於上帝，而撒母耳也忠心的聽從了上帝的指示。當耶西最小的兒子，最不像候選人的牧童大衛來到撒母耳面前，撒母耳立刻知道那是他要膏立的人。這也是撒母耳最後一次在職的公務行動。上帝看出大衛有一顆純潔、渴慕上帝的心。上帝看我們的心如何呢？這應該是我們所有的人最關切的要務。

        膏大衛之舉象徵上帝的靈降在他身上，預備他、引導他、保護他，賜給他能力作一個偉大的王。在上帝的帶領安排之下，以色列未來的王大衛更接受了進一步的預備，因為不知情的掃羅將他的繼位者延請到宮中作他私人的樂師，撫平他被擾亂的靈。

        上帝看重大衛，因為大衛尊重上帝。他是蒙大福的人，因為彌賽亞經由大衛的譜系而出。受膏之君、上帝為拯救以色列人所揀選的大衛，預表我們的主耶穌基督，祂是上帝所揀選、膏立的王，將完成上帝救贖全世界的計畫。

        主，謝謝您看我們的內心而不是看我們的外表。您知道我們的心渴慕您。我們在您裡面喜樂，因為您已經潔淨了我們的心，除去我們的罪，您的聖靈也降在我們身上。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        From the time of Samuel's pronouncement of God's rejection of Saul, the process began which led to his personal downfall. God's Holy Spirit was taken from upon him, and he lost favour in God's sight. He became alienated from God and from Samuel, who mourned for him as though he were dead (15:35). In fact, Saul's spirit, which had once been alive, was now dead because of hardening his heart against God.

        The condition of Saul worsened and he became mentally unstable. In Hebrew thought, both good and bad things that happened to anyone were attributed to God; therefore, Saul's affliction was called "a distressing spirit from the Lord" (16:14). This was actually because the Lord allowed Saul to be troubled in such a way. Since God's Spirit was no longer upon him to strengthen and empower him in body, mind, and spirit, and since Saul had rejected God, he opened himself up to attacks from the enemy, Satan. Mankind has a innate need for a relationship with God, but when there is alienation from God, mankind suffers.

        God was raising up another man, one after his own heart, to replace Saul as king, so His plan of salvation might be accomplished. David was God's chosen instrument. When the time came for Samuel to anoint David, it had to be done in secret so that Saul might not know of it. Samuel's concern and fear of Saul's jealousy and violence was later proven to be well-founded (18:10-11; 20:33). The purpose of Samuel's trip to Bethlehem therefore had to be concealed, especially since Saul would have no doubt heard about it, because the road from Samuel's home in Ramah to Bethlehem passed right through Saul's hometown of Gibeah.

        When Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel, he naturally thought that the mature, tall, and handsome eldest son, Eliab, would be God's choice for king. God instructed Samuel, however, that He does not look on the outward appearance as man does, but rather He looks at the heart. The choice was to be totally from God and Samuel was faithful in heeding God's voice. When the youngest son, the shepherd boy David, the most unlikely candidate, was presented to him, Samuel immediately knew he was the one to be anointed. This was to be Samuel's last official act. God saw that David had a pure heart that longed after Him. What does God see when he looks at our heart? For all of us, this should be the most important matter of concern.

        The anointing of David symbolized God's Spirit upon him which would prepare, guide, protect, and empower him to be a great king under God. In the providence of God, David received further preparation for his kingship, for Saul ironically and unknowingly invited his own replacement into the royal court to be his personal musician in an attempt to soothe his troubled spirit.

        David was honoured by God because he gave honour to God. He was greatly blessed, for through him the Messiah was to come. David, the anointed future king whom God had chosen for the salvation of Israel, typified our Lord Jesus Christ, God's chosen One, the Anointed coming King, who would accomplish God's plan of salvation for the whole world.

        Thank You, Lord, for looking on the heart and not just the outward appearance. You know that our hearts long after You. We rejoice in Your presence this day for You have cleansed our hearts from sin and Your Holy Spirit is upon us.