Israel needed a new king. The one they had chosen for themselves (Saul) was not working out very well. So, God sent the prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem to find the man of God’s choosing and anoint him as king. [1 Samuel 16]
When the time came, Jesse paraded his sons before the prophet, beginning with the oldest Eliab. Samuel’s reaction was swift, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed is here before Him.” [vs 6b]
Samuel was wrong, and it did not take long for God to correct him. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” [v7]
Jesse, upon the rejection of Eliab then brought out other sons, seven in all, and the LORD rejected each one. There was only one son left, and he was not even present at the meal. David, the youngest was out tending the flocks, one of the lowest jobs anyone could have at that time—that of a shepherd. When brought before Samuel, God’s choice was clear, and Samuel anointed him in the presence of his father and brothers.
When anointed, the most marvelous thing happened, “the Spirit of the LORD took control of David from that day forward.” [v13]
Looked in the mirror lately? What do you see? Do you see the outside, the visible part that everyone else sees first? Or do you see your heart, as the LORD sees you? It really does not matter what the outside looks like – mine is wrinkled and spotted with sagging skin and thinning hair. That is what I notice first. What God sees, however, is far from that. He sees the deepest desires of my heart to love and serve Him.
And the best part, because He has chosen us, He gives us the His own Spirit to help us realize those deepest desires. Thank you, LORD, Amen.
