1 Samuel 16

16 ¹ Our Father said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen one of his sons to be my king." ¹ 1 v1 A horn of oil is a flask made from an animal's horn, used to carry oil for anointing.

² But Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." Our Father said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to our Father.'"

³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I point out to you."

⁴ Samuel did what our Father told him and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came trembling to meet him and asked, "Do you come in peace?"

⁵ "In peace," he replied. "I have come to sacrifice to our Father. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely this is our Father's anointed!"

⁷ But our Father said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. People do not see as I see: they look at the outward appearance, but I, your Father, look at the heart."

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him walk before Samuel. But Samuel said, "Our Father has not chosen this one either." ⁹ Next Jesse had Shammah step forward. But Samuel said, "Nor has our Father chosen this one."

¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons walk before Samuel, but Samuel told him, "Our Father has not chosen these."

¹¹ Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied, "but he is out tending the sheep." "Send for him," Samuel said, "for we will not sit down until he arrives."

¹² So Jesse sent for him and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. Then our Father said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one."

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of our Father rushed upon David in power. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

David Enters the King's Service

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of our Father had departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from our Father tormented him. ² 2 v14 Even a harmful spirit operates only by our Father's permission; here he lifts his protection from Saul in judgment, though he himself is never the author of evil. ¹⁵ Saul's servants said to him, "Look, a harmful spirit from our Father is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command your servants here to search for someone skilled in playing the lyre. Whenever the harmful spirit from our Father comes upon you, he will play, and you will feel better."

¹⁷ So Saul said to his servants, "Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me."

¹⁸ One of the servants spoke up: "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play. He is a brave man and a warrior, skilled in speech and handsome, and our Father is with him."

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse with the message, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse: "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me."

²³ Whenever the harmful spirit from our Father came upon Saul, David would take up the lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.