1. What did God tell Samuel to go to Bethlehem to do?

He told him to go and anoint one of Jesse the Bethlehemite’s sons because God chosehim as the next king of Israel.

2. When Jesse’s sons stood before Samuel, who did Samuel think God chose? Why?

Samuel thought God chose the firstborn son of Jesse. He was tall, he looked like a king.He looked similar to King Saul. All of Jesse’s 7 sons passed before Samuel but Godrejected each of them.

3. What does God look at when he’s selecting the next King? How is this different when man picks a king?

God looks at the heart of a person when he picks the next king. God can save his people even if his king is not the tallest, or the strongest. God is all powerful and he can use whoever he wants to win the victory for his people. When man picks a king, he looks at what a person looks like on the outside. When God picks a king, he is all knowing and he sees the kind of character and heart a person has. God knows if they will love God from their heart, or if they love and want to serve only themselves.

4. What happened after Samuel anointed David? How was this different from Saul?

The Spirit of the Lord rushed on David from that day forward. The Spirit of the Lord stayed on David. He did not come and go like he did with the judges. He remained on David. The Spirit of the Lord left Saul and sent an evil spirit to torment him instead. Saul was continuing to be the king of Israel even though God had already rejected him as theking.

5. How did David come to serve in Saul’s presence?

David played the harp and sang really well. When the evil Spirit came on Saul, Saul would have David come and play the harp and sing and the evil spirit would leave. David entered into Saul’s service this way and became the person who carries the king’s armor. This was a very special position. God was preparing David for the right time to work an amazing victory for Israel to defeat Goliath and the Philistines.

6. How does this story point to the Messiah? How is David the right kind of king to lead the people of Israel?

David was from the right tribe of Judah, he had the right kind of heart that wanted to love God, and he was really good at the right job. He was a good shepherd and we should see that he will make a good king. Saul was looking for his father’s animals when Samuel found him, but David was watching over the flocks and keeping them safe and giving them food and water. David would make a great king. Jesus makes an even better one. Jesus is also from the right tribe. Jesus also has the right heart that loved God perfectly. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he came and laid his life down for his sheep, his people. Jesus is the true and right King! Let’s worship and give our lives to him!