What do you see in me?

Daily Worship

August 22, 2012

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1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace? ”

Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.”

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.”Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Samuel is sent by God to the family of Jesse in Bethlehem with the secret aim of anointing a successor to King Saul. God promises he will show Samuel which of Jesse’s sons he has chosen. All the boys are paraded before Samuel but God shakes his head at them all. “Are these all your sons?” Samuel asks Jesse.

“Well, there is one more” Jesse tells Samuel, “but he’s the youngest – too young to be brought. He’s at home looking after the sheep.”

One of the boys is sent to fetch the youngster and as soon as Samuel sees him, he knows this is the one whom God has chosen. His name is David.

There was nothing wrong with any of his older brothers. They were perfectly good lads and no doubt God had other plans for each of their lives but David he wanted to be King.

And David became King.

Others looking on that day probably thought Samuel was making a big mistake. But God can see in people what others can’t.