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34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. 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.” 2 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.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 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?” 5 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.6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 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 Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 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.” 12 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.” 13 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. (1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 New International Version Bible)
The boy Samuel is now the prophet of God who anointed Saul as Israel's first king. Saul, if you will remember, had the attributes that humans, or a majority of them, desire in a leader; he was tall and handsome. Beyond that, hmm, there were some problems. He was insecure and had a tendency to fly into some angry rages and only music could calm him down. Saul was a dad and his desire was to have his first son, Jonathan, become the heir apparent. However, the Bible says that God discovered that Saul was no longer "after God's own heart," meaning he was disobedient to God and lacked the faith to be a good king. So, Samuel has been told by God to find a new king and takes this task kinda hard. Samuel is told to get his anointing horn ready to go and anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse.
When Samuel sees Jesse's eldest son, Eliab, he assumes he must be the one chosen by God because of his outward appearance. However, God reminds Samuel that He looks beyond outward appearances and into the heart.
This narrative teaches us valuable lessons about God's ways. Firstly, it shows that God's choices often defy human expectations. While Eliab may have seemed like the logical choice, God had a different plan. Secondly, it emphasizes the importance of character over appearance. God sees into the depths of our hearts, choosing those whose hearts are aligned with His will.
David, the youngest son of Jesse, is revealed to be the one chosen by God. Despite his youth and seemingly insignificant role as a shepherd, David's heart is pure and devoted to God. When Samuel anoints him, the Spirit of the Lord comes mightily upon him, marking the beginning of his journey as Israel's future king.
Just as God chose and anointed David, He has chosen and anointed each of us for a specific purpose. Our task is to seek His will, cultivate a heart after God's own heart, and trust in His timing and guidance.
PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank You for the assurance that You see beyond our outward appearance and into the depths of our hearts. Help us to cultivate hearts that are pleasing to You, seeking Your will above all else. May Your Spirit empower us to fulfill the purpose for which You have chosen and anointed us. Guide us in the paths of righteousness, that we may bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' strong name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how you can cultivate a heart after God's own heart. Spend time in prayer and meditation, seeking His guidance and direction for your life. Seek opportunities to serve God and others with humility and sincerity, trusting that He will use you according to His perfect plan.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
