1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 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? Saul will hear about it and 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 man looks at. Man looks 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, “but he is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he 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 upon David in power.
Related Text:
Psalm 78:70-72
Matthew 5:8
Matthew 12:33-35
Luke 6:43-45
Acts 13:21-23
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Make the Change
God doesn’t make decisions based on what we think would be deciding factors. God anointed David as king, but before he met David, Samuel thought David’s older brother Eliab would be the one God would anoint. Samuel took one look at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here”. We aren’t told exactly what Samuel noticed to make him think Eliab would be anointed as king, but he saw something. His appearance, physical build maybe, his height. Whatever Samuel saw, it made him think that God would choose Eliab.
Then God throws a curve. Ok, maybe not a curve, but God tells Samuel why he’s doing what He’s doing. In verse 7, God says, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
God’s telling Samuel that He thinks differently than we do. God doesn’t base His decisions on the things that we as humans base our decisions on. God’s trying to teach us to look beyond appearances and to trust in Him.
