1 Samuel 16:13
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What's striking here is that David was anointed "in the midst of his brothers," not in secret. This public affirmation, even from his own family, highlights the audacious nature of God's choice and that the Lord saw David's true kingship when everyone else, including his own father, overlooked him.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This moment follows God's rejection of Saul as king and Samuel's grief over it. God directs Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons, and David, the youngest shepherd boy, is chosen and dramatically set apart by the Spirit. Samuel then departs, leaving David to return to his sheep but now empowered for a future he couldn't yet fully grasp.
David wasn't hiding when he was chosen. His anointing happened right in front of everyone. What does that tell us about God's ways?
Chosen Amidst the Crowd
God's choices don't always follow human expectations. Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, but he had to look past all of Jesse's older, more impressive sons first. David, the youngest, was out tending sheep. Yet, it was there, in the midst of his brothers, that Samuel poured the oil on David's head.
This wasn't a secret ceremony. It happened publicly, in front of the family. This highlights that God's calling and empowerment are not dependent on our status or how we appear to others. It's a divine selection, declared openly.
Anointing with oil was significant, but what really changed for David? It was the powerful arrival of God's Spirit.
Empowered for Purpose
The pouring of oil was a symbol, but the true transformation came with the Spirit of the LORD.
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This signifies that God equips those He calls. His Spirit doesn't just inspire; He empowers for the tasks ahead.
Understand the original words
ruach · Hebrew Noun
The third person of the Trinity, the divine presence of God who empowers, guides, and dwells within His people to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
This anointing wasn't just a ceremony; it was God's direct intervention to establish a new lineage of leadership after Saul's rejection, immediately empowering David for the immense tasks ahead.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, acting as God's prophet, anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in Israel's governance.
c. 1040 BC
Saul Disobeys God
Saul repeatedly disobeys direct commands from God through Samuel, particularly regarding the spoils of war and proper worship.
c. 1030 BC
God Rejects Saul as King
Because of his persistent disobedience, God informs Samuel that He has rejected Saul from being king over Israel, initiating the search for a successor.
c. 1030 BC— this verse
Samuel Visits Jesse
Samuel is instructed by God to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from the household of Jesse, a man of Judah.
c. 1030 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as king in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon David powerfully.
c. 1030 BC
David Serves Saul
David is brought to Saul's court to play music, calming the king's troubled spirit, and later becomes Saul's armor-bearer.
This passage shows David being anointed king over all Israel, fulfilling the promise initiated when Samuel first anointed him.
Psalm 23:1David’s own words here reflect the deep, personal relationship with the Lord that the anointing signifies and empowers.
1 Corinthians 1:21This New Testament passage parallels the idea that God chooses the unlikely and uses the anointing of the Spirit to bring about His purposes, just as He did with David.
Acts 10:38This verse speaks of Jesus being anointed with the Holy Spirit, showing how David's anointing was a foreshadowing of the Messiah who would be empowered by the same Spirit.
What's striking here is that David was anointed "in the midst of his brothers," not in secret. This public affirmation, even from his own family, highlights the audacious nature of God's choice and that the Lord saw David's true kingship when everyone else, including his own father, overlooked him.
This moment follows God's rejection of Saul as king and Samuel's grief over it. God directs Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons, and David, the youngest shepherd boy, is chosen and dramatically set apart by the Spirit. Samuel then departs, leaving David to return to his sheep but now empowered for a future he couldn't yet fully grasp.
This moment follows God's rejection of Saul as king and Samuel's grief over it. God directs Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons, and David, the youngest shepherd boy, is chosen and dramatically set apart by the Spirit. Samuel then departs, leaving David to return to his sheep but now empowered for a future he couldn't yet fully grasp.
"Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah." — What's striking here is that David was anointed "in the midst of his brothers," not in secret. This public affirmation, even from his own family, highlights the audacious nature of God's choice and t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
