Did God tell Samuel to lie?
QUESTION: Did God tell Samuel to lie when he anointed David?
ANSWER: The incident in question is found in 1 Samuel 16:1-3 ...
- 1 Samuel 16:1-3 "And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee."
God tells Samuel to go anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new king of Israel. Samuel is afraid that King Saul will kill him if he finds out, so God gives him a strategic instruction in verses 2-3 to take an heifer to sacrifice to the lord.
- 1 Samuel 16:2-3 "And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee."
1SP 367 says,
"And the Lord no more communicated with Saul, or instructed him through Samuel. He had chosen to follow his own will, and had rejected the word of the Lord. God left him to be guided by his own judgment, which he had chosen to follow rather than to obey God. Saul had no true repentance. He had become exalted because he was made king. He manifested greater anxiety to be honored by Samuel before the people, than to obtain forgiveness and the favor of God. { 1SP 367.2 }
Samuel came no more to Saul with directions from God. The Lord could not employ him to carry out his purposes. But he sent Samuel to the house of Jesse, to anoint David, whom he had selected to be ruler in the place of Saul, whom he had rejected. { 1SP 367.3 }
No, God did not tell Samuel to lie when He instructed him to anoint David.
This is not a lie; it is actually part of Samuel’s mission. He did offer a sacrifice. God told him to say only part of his mission, not to disclose the anointing part to everyone. This is a biblical example of withholding full information for protection, not of deception. Jesus Himself did similar things at one time (see John 7:8–10).
Jesus told His brethren:
“I go not up yet unto this feast” (v. 8), but later He did go in secret (v. 10).
- John 7:8-10 "Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret."
Jesus did not lie to his brethren, for “it was impossible for God to lie” according to Hebrews 6:18.
He simply did not go at that time or in the way they expected. Please note in verse 5 said that his brethren do not believe in Him.
- John 7:5 "For neither did his brethren believe in him."
He withheld part of His plan to avoid premature exposure.
So, God upheld truth and protected His servant Samuel by giving him a valid reason that was not a lie. Concealing a good motive is plainly justified. Secrecy and concealment are not the same as deception or falsehood.
No man who does not utter the real sentiment of his heart can be called a truthful man. "Falsehood virtually consists in an intention to deceive; and this may be shown by a look or a word. Even facts may be so arranged and stated as to constitute falsehoods. Some are adepts at this business, and they will seek to justify themselves for departing from strict veracity." 4T 335.3
Samuel did not lie; he followed a righteous and divinely-approved method of discretion.
Summary of Biblical Principle
Proverbs 26:4–5 shows that context is important:
Proverbs 26:4-5
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
In other words, this shows that different situations require different responses, grounded in wisdom and truthfulness.
So when Samuel anointed David, it is consistent with biblical precedent: God gave him a truthful but partial instruction to prevent unnecessary conflict -- not a lie.
I hope you are blessed!
