Today's Scripture
The Opinion That Matters 1 Samuel 16:1-12
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lordsaid, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lordcommanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.”13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
RJ's Devotion
What Does the Passage Say?
V. 1 In the previous chapter, Saul rejects the ways of the Lord, and God announces God’s decision to install a new king for Jerusalem.
V. 2-5 Samuel, the priest, and last Judge were ordered to go to the house of Jesse and anoint the new king.
V. 6-10 Lord shows Samuel how the heart is important, rather than the outward appearance.
V. 11-13 David appears, in front of Samuel, and the Spirit leads Samuel to anoint the future king. Immediately following the anointing, the Spirit came upon David and rested on him.
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
We see in the story of David’s anointing how God values the heart. Outward appearances and abilities don’t really matter to God. David being sent out in the field, while all the brothers gathered for the feast preparing for the sacrifice, might indicate he did not have the special virtues of his brothers. David did, however, have one virtue that his brothers did not have; a desire for God. David is well known for his Psalms. If we read the Psalms, we see where David’s heart was. In times of joy, he desired the Lord, in times of difficulties, he desired more of God’s presence to reign in his life. God clearly says, “… for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they [mortals] look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (v. 7 NRSV).
Is our heart focused on the desire to seek our Lord?
Prayer
Lord, we ask for your presence in our lives. We ask to add faith, of how you are with us. Help us to desire your presence, every day. Help us to see when we desire, on how you pour out your Holy Spirit in our lives. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN.
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