Devotion:
Read 1 Samuel 16:1 and 8-13.
Samuel has had a hard time mourning Saul and his failures as a leader. God tells him that it’s time to move on and sends him on a mission to find the next king. Samuel makes his way to the home of Jesse as God directs. Jesse has seven of his eight sons lined up for Samuel to see. God promised Samuel that he would direct him to the right son. I imagine Jesse has instructed them to be on their best behavior hoping one of them will be picked for the anointing. One by one Samuel sizes them up. Eliab is first. Oh, he must have looked very kingly, for Samuel is ready to pick him. But God tells Samuel otherwise, “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” (1 Samuel 16:7). Samuel continues down the line of sons. Next comes Abinadab, then Shamma, on and on. No no no. “Any more?”, Samuel asks. Jesse replies, “Well, there is the little brother out in the field.” Can you imagine how those seven brothers might have responded to their rejection? And Samuel must have been wondering why God hadn’t given him the go ahead for one of these seven young men! Jesse sends for the youngest brother, David. He is dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes, and the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him” (1 Samuel 16:12). Samuel anoints David with oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on (1 Samuel 16:13). God’s Spirit began preparing David for his role as king. Samuel was using human standards as he considered which of Jesse’s sons would be anointed the next king, but God was looking through his eternal lens. Samuel looked at the outward appearance but looked at the heart.
Personal Worship Option:
Our relationship with God is always a heart issue. David had a heart for God. How closely is your heart aligned with God?
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