Reason #203

Samuel was given a big job. An important one. Anoint the next king, the man who's throne would reign forever. The one from which Jesus Christ would eventually come. And so he set off to find this one. This chosen king to be. King, just the word conjures up ideas and stereotypes. I bet Samuel began to paint a picture of this soon to be king as he traveled to Bethlehem to meet him. I bet he imagnied what he'd look like. Strong, powerful, brave. A warrior, as every king should be. A leader. A man of great stature and significance. Perfection. One who has it all together. This was, after all, not a job that just anyone could do. This was a role for a special, special person.

"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?” “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” 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, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “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.”

Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.”Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

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

“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

- 1 Samuel 16:4-12



David, the little one. The forgotten one. Off doing his own thing and no one even notices he's not presnet. Oh yea, David. Unmentioned. Left in the field to tend to sheep. Nothing of great significance. Really, David was the least. The youngest, the baby. The least qualified on paper, but the right one for the job. Maybe he wasn't the idea of perfection. Maybe he wasn't mighty and strong. Maybe his presence didn't demand attention. Maybe he didn't currently have the type of respect a king would have. Maybe he was missing that boldness that a leader possesses. But he had it. Something that wasn't visible from the outside. Something that wasn't easily detected by the naked eye. Maybe even David didn't realize it at the time. Maybe he was as confused as Samuel thinking, "Really? Me?" And I have to wonder how David felt about this. Did he feel prepared? Did he even see this coming? Did David feel adeqaute enough to do this job? Did he question why, out of all of his brothers, he, the least, was chosen?

But the Lord saw and He knew. On paper, David didn't seem like the right fit. A young boy, a sheep herder, now a mighty king? Doesn't make sense. It would make better sense to pass the crown on to someone who has dabbled in the royal life. Someone who is familar with that type of living. Someone who has experienced it. Because, seems to me, they would be more deserving. The better fit. But that's not what the Lord thought. And, that's not what He wanted either. Because He could see so much more. He could see what type of leader David was going to be. He could see how perfect of a fit He was for this role. And He knew David was going to make mistakes. He knew David wasn't perfect, by any means. But He also knew that David was going to become a man after God's own heart. And, after all, isn't that exactly what the Lord told Samuel He was most concerned with from the start?

So I'm thankful for a God who looks past it all and gets straight to the heart of the matter. Straight to the heart, really. I'm thankful that He sees so much more than the naked eye can see. I'm grateful that I don't serve a surface-level God, but rather a God who is concerned with the inward. And I praise Him for not always giving us what we're most deserving of or most qualified to do, but rather for giving us incredible opportunities, big blessings, because of what He can do.

#203 - Because He looks at the heart.

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." - Psalm 33:13-15