Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Samuel 16:1-5

"And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto Jehovah: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice." — 1 Samuel 16:1-5 (ASV)

It appears that Saul had grown very wicked. Of what would he not be guilty, who dared to think of killing Samuel? The elders of Bethlehem trembled at Samuel's coming. It is fitting for us to stand in awe of God's messengers and to tremble at His word.

His answer was, I come peaceably, for I come to sacrifice. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, though people had reason to fear that His mission was to condemn the world, yet He gave full assurance that He came peaceably, for He came to sacrifice, and He brought His offering with Him: A body hast thou prepared me.

Let us sanctify ourselves and depend upon His sacrifice.