Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”
But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”
So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”
And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:1-9)
David is mentioned almost more than anyone else in the Bible. Why? It’s not for the historical events in his life, but because God wants us to see the principles from his life that will help us. For this study we are going to begin with David’s call.
We come into David’s story at the spiritual downfall of Saul. He had compromised and not fully obeyed God (Read 1 Samuel 15). He was an ineffectual leader; so God told Samuel to go and find the new king at Jesse’s house. God always has an answer to a bad situation, and when it comes to fixing a bad situation, God looks for a person whose heart will be devoted and obedient to His plans. God looked past Jesse’s eldest child because He was looking for a heart that would be His.
Reflect.
Take a moment and ask yourself if your heart is open to do whatever God tells you, whenever He tells you , however He tells you? If not, why not? If you sense some resistance, list why you may feel this way. Is it fear of the unknown, fear that He won’t provide? Fear of shame? Search your heart and be honest. Have you made plans you’re unwilling to change?
Respond.
Lord, thank you for the story of David. Thank you for his example and for showing us that you are looking for hearts that are open and obedient. Help me prepare my heart to be willing to follow you wherever and whenever you lead me. Amen.
