- God rebukes Samuel's mourning over Saul and sends him to Bethlehem with a mission to anoint the next king (v. 1).
- God's plan for Israel's king was never undone by Saul's failure.
- Samuel fears Saul will kill him, and God provides a cover by telling him to bring a heifer for sacrifice (v. 2).
- This is not God commanding a lie, for He does desire that Samuel do the sacrifice. It is a partial disclosure.
- Samuel arrives and immediately repeats Israel's mistake, by assuming the man who seems outwardly "king-like" is the intended anointee.
- God rebukes Samuel for this, "the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart" (v. 7).
- The chosen one is out tending the sheep (v. 11), not where one would naturally look for a king.
- Samuel anoints David, and immediately the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David (v. 13).
- The Spirit departs from Saul and a spirit of distress is introduced (v. 14).
- David enters Saul's service as a musician and armor-bearer (vv. 21–22), unbeknownst to Saul that David is the anointed replacement.
- Like Christ, David comes from unexpected circumstances, and will not be revealed until the time is right.