Readers' Theatre: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13

Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of 1 Samuel 16: 1-13, where Samuel anoints David.  It is set for three voices.

Readers’ Theatre: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13

One:     Now the Lord said to Samuel,

Two:     You have mourned long enough for Saul.
            I have rejected him as king of Israel,
            so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem.
            Find a man named Jesse who lives there,
            for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.

One:     But Samuel asked,

Three:  How can I do that?
            If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.

Two:     Take a heifer with you,
            and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.
            Invite Jesse to the sacrifice,
            and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.

One:     So Samuel did as the Lord instructed.
            When he arrived at Bethlehem,
            the elders of the town came trembling to meet him.
            “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?”

Three:  Yes. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.
            Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.

One:     Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons
            and invited them to the sacrifice, too.
            When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought,

Three:  Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!

One:     But the Lord said to Samuel,

Two:     Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.
            The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them.
            People judge by outward appearance,
            but the Lord looks at the heart.

One:     Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward
            and walk in front of Samuel.

Three:  This is not the one the Lord has chosen.

One:     Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said,

Three:  Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.

One:     In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel.
            But Samuel said to Jesse,

Three:  The Lord has not chosen any of these.
            Are these all the sons you have?

One:     “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied.
            “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”

Three:  Send for him at once.
            We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.

One:     So Jesse sent for him.
            David arrived, and he was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

One:     And the Lord said,

Two:     This is the one; anoint him.

One:     So as David stood there among his brothers,
            Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought
            and anointed David with the oil.
            And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

            Then Samuel returned to Ramah.