Chapter 16 of I Samuel centres on God choosing David as the next king of Israel. Samuel is sent to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, and though David seems an unlikely candidate, God chooses him because of his heart, not his outward appearance. The chapter draws out the theme: "God looks on the heart." It also marks David's rise as he is brought into King Saul’s service to play the lyre, calming Saul’s troubled spirit. The story reminds us that God sees what others cannot and chooses people based on their inner character.