16:1
Saul has been rejected as king by the Lord. We now come to the anointing of David. It will take some time, and many events, before he actually assumes the role. These events are important. There are some who see the account as an apologetic for David’s kingship, i.e. demonstrating that he was rightfully king, and not a usurper. The account does demonstrate that David was rightfully king, and had the role because of God’s choice. However, the accounts are true, not made up, and are not afraid to show David’s failings as well as his successes and his good points.
Samuel was mourning for Saul. Probably because he was upset at having anointed Saul, and then seeing him fail and be rejected. Anyway, the Lord tells him to get over it! There was work to be done, and the first thing to be done was to anoint David. At this point Samuel is just told that the king he has chosen is a son of Jesse of Bethlehem. Bethlehem, of course, will assume even greater importance as the birthplace of Jesus.
16:2,3
Samuel is fearful, afraid that Saul will kill him. Saul is very protective of his kingship. So we see that even godly men can be full of fear. The Lord tells him to take a heifer and to say “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord”. Jesse was to be invited to the sacrifice. We see that following God does not mean being naive, or avoiding using wisdom. The heifer would be a cover. Saul, in all his weakness, had a fear of sorts for the Lord and anything to do with sacrifices, so the cover would stop him killing Samuel.
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