The story of David anointed as king — a prophet went to a small town looking for a king, and God chose the one son no one had bothered to call in from the fields.
This account is found in 1 Samuel 16, after the LORD rejected Saul as king over Israel.
The Story of David Is Anointed King
The LORD told Samuel to stop mourning for Saul and to fill his horn with oil. He sent Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of a man named Jesse, saying He had provided Himself a king among Jesse’s sons.
When Samuel saw Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, he was tall and impressive, and Samuel thought surely this was the LORD’s anointed. But the LORD told him not to judge by height or appearance, for man looks on the outward appearance while the LORD looks on the heart.
One by one, Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel. Each time Samuel said the LORD had not chosen this one. Seven sons passed by, and none of them was the man God had picked.
Samuel asked Jesse if these were all his children. Jesse said the youngest still remained, out keeping the sheep. Samuel said to send for him, and they would not sit down until he came. The boy was David.
When David arrived, the LORD said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David among his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day on. Later, when an evil spirit troubled Saul, David played the harp and Saul was refreshed.
Key Verses
“I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons” 1 Samuel 16:1
“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7
“There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep” 1 Samuel 16:11
“Anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David” 1 Samuel 16:13
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation.
What the Story of David Is Anointed King Teaches Us
The story shows that God does not measure people the way people do. The tall, obvious choice was passed over, and the forgotten shepherd boy was chosen, because God weighs the heart rather than the outward appearance.
It also shows that God prepares people quietly. David was faithful in a small task, keeping the sheep, long before anyone saw him as a king, and God had already set His choice on him.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in this story?
In 1 Samuel 16, God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. After seven older sons are passed over, the youngest, David, is called in from the sheep and anointed.
Why was David chosen over his older brothers?
The LORD told Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. David’s brothers looked the part, but God had chosen David.
Who was Jesse?
Jesse was a man of Bethlehem and the father of David. God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house because He had chosen a king from among Jesse’s sons.
What happened after David was anointed?
The Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. Later David played the harp for Saul, and Saul was refreshed when an evil spirit troubled him.
Where is this story in the Bible?
It is found in 1 Samuel 16.