“And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Samuel 16:12 Mean?
Samuel has been looking at Jesse's sons all day — the tall one, the strong one, the impressive one — and God has rejected every one. Now Jesse sends for the youngest, the one he didn't even bother to bring to the ceremony. And what happens when David walks in changes everything.
"He sent, and brought him in" — David was fetched. Not invited. Not considered for the original lineup. Jesse didn't think to include him. David was out with the sheep while his brothers stood before the prophet. The last. The youngest. The one the family overlooked. He had to be summoned because nobody thought he was relevant.
"Now he was ruddy" — red-haired or reddish-complexioned. The word (admônî) describes a healthy, vibrant appearance. David looked alive. The detail is physical and specific — God's chosen king has a particular complexion. The Bible preserves it because the person God chooses is a real person with a real body and a real appearance.
"And withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to" — the marginal note says "fair of eyes." David was attractive. Not just healthy — beautiful. The eyes, particularly, were striking. God had just told Samuel not to look at outward appearance (verse 7). And then He chooses someone who happens to be beautiful. The contradiction is intentional: God doesn't choose based on appearance. But the person He chose happened to be beautiful. The selection criteria was internal. The external was bonus.
"And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he" — four words from God that end the search: this is he. Not "this might be." Not "consider him." This is he. The certainty is absolute. The one everyone overlooked is the one God has been looking for. Arise — stand up, Samuel. Stop sitting. The king just walked in. Anoint him — pour the oil. The waiting is over. For this is he — the search, which examined seven brothers and found none of them suitable, is complete. The eighth son. The shepherd. The afterthought. This is he.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where have you been 'left with the sheep' — overlooked by the people who should have included you?
- 2.How does God's choice of the overlooked youngest son challenge the way you evaluate people's potential?
- 3.What does 'this is he' mean for you — has God identified something in you that nobody else has recognized yet?
- 4.How does the tension between 'don't look at appearance' and David's beauty teach you about what God actually values?
Devotional
Nobody sent for David. He was with the sheep. Jesse brought seven sons to the prophet and didn't think to include the youngest. The family's assessment of David's relevance was so low that they left him in the field while the anointing ceremony happened. And God said: where's the other one? Bring him. Because the one you didn't think to include is the one I've been looking for.
This is he. Three words that should encourage every person who's been overlooked, passed over, left in the field while the important things happened without them. The family's assessment of your value is not God's assessment. The system's ranking of your relevance is not heaven's ranking. David was the afterthought of Jesse's household and the first choice of God's. The gap between those two evaluations is the gap you live in when you're called but not yet recognized.
God told Samuel not to look at outward appearance. And then He chose the most beautiful brother. The lesson isn't that appearance doesn't matter. It's that appearance isn't the criteria. God looked at David's heart (verse 7). The beauty was there too — but it wasn't the reason. The heart was the reason. The person God chooses is chosen for what nobody else can see. The beauty the world admires is secondary to the heart God examines.
Arise, anoint him. Samuel had been sitting through seven rejections. Seven impressive sons. Seven divine nos. And then the least likely candidate walks in from the sheep pen, and God says: stand up. This is him. Stop looking. The search is over. The one you almost missed is the one I planned from the beginning.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he sent and brought him in,.... Sent messengers into the field and to the flock for him, and being come home Jesse…
He was ruddy - I believe the word here means red-haired, he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with…
If the sons of Jesse were told that God would provide himself a king among them (as he had said, Sa1 16:1), we may well…
ruddy The word denotes the red hair and fair skin which are regarded as a mark of beauty in southern countries, where…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture