This time God"s choice was not a king for the people according to their desires, but a king for Himself ( 1 Samuel 16:1) who would put Yahweh first ( 1 Samuel 13:14; cf. Galatians 4:4-5). Saul would have perceived Samuel"s act of anointing another man king as treason ( 1 Samuel 16:2). He continued to show more concern for his own interests than for the will of God. Evidently Samuel had gained a reputation as an executioner since he had killed Agag ( 1 Samuel 16:4; cf. 1 Samuel 15:33). [source][source][source]
Samuel judged Jesse"s sons by their external qualities, just as the Israelites judged Saul acceptable because of those characteristics ( 1 Samuel 16:6). 1 Samuel 16:7 clarifies how God evaluates people, namely, on the basis of their hearts (affections), not their appearances or abilities (cf. Matthew 3:17; Mark 10:31; 1 Corinthians 1:27). As He had done earlier in Scriptural history, God chose the son that was not the natural choice, showing that He does not bind Himself to what is traditional. It is unusual that Jesse did not have David present for Samuel"s inspection since Hebrews , too, was one of his sons. Jesse had eight sons ( 1 Samuel 17:12; cf. 1 Chronicles 2:13-15; 1 Chronicles 27:18). This may suggest that Jesse did not think as highly of David as he did of his other sons (cf. Psalm 27:10, where David wrote of his parents forsaking him). Was David a neglected or even an abused child whom his father viewed more as hired help than as a son?[source]
"It"s remarkable, isn"t it, how Jesse reveals two very common mistakes parents make. Number one, he didn"t have an equal appreciation for all of his children. And number two, he failed to cultivate a mutual self-respect among them. Jesse saw his youngest as nothing more than the one who tended the sheep." [1][source]
"The shepherd/flock image is a kind of Leitmotif for David from this point on.... The book"s last story shows David deeply concerned for the flock [2]." [3][source]
A leitmotif, literally a leading or guiding theme, is a phrase or image that recurs with and represents a given character, situation, or emotion in a piece of literature or music. David (probably meaning "beloved of the Lord") was physically attractive ( 1 Samuel 16:12; cf. Isaiah 53:2). Nevertheless, God did not choose him for that reason, but because of God"s sovereign election and because of David"s heart attitude. God"s sovereign election to salvation does not depend on human initiative ( Romans 9:16), but His sovereign election to service does ( 1 Timothy 1:12). [source][source][source]
"What does it mean to be a person after God"s own heart? Seems to me, it means that you are a person whose life is in harmony with the Lord. What is important to Him is important to you. What burdens Him burdens you. When He says, "Go to the right," you go to the right. When He says, "Stop that in your life," you stop it. When He says, "This is wrong and I want you to change," you come to terms with it because you have a heart for God." [4][source]
David and his family were the first after Samuel to learn that he would be the next king, or perhaps that he would become Samuel"s successor, like Elisha became to Elijah. [5] In time, all Israel would learn that David would become the next king as he became the instrument through whom God blessed the nation. David became successful because God"s Spirit came on him, remained with him from then on, and empowered him for service (cf. Matthew 3:16-17). [6][source]1 Samuel 16:13 records Samuel"s departure for his home in Ramah. At this point in the book he becomes a minor figure who no longer plays an active role in the progress of events. His anointing of David, therefore, was the climax and capstone of his career. [source][source][source]