We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 (NRSV)
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.
16 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 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 you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded, 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.
Devotional: What God looks for
The Israelites had demanded a king, and the one they received (Saul) was certainly impressive in appearance (1 Samuel 9:2). However, his character was less impressive, and finally God rejected him (1 Sam. 15:10ff). Now Samuel was tasked with anointing a new king, from the family of Jesse. As with Saul’s anointing, God would guide Samuel to the right person, but it seems that Samuel was again expecting an impressive person. But God’s chosen one was not what Samuel expected – in fact he wasn’t even present when Samuel started the process. The one whom God had chosen was handsome, but not the eldest, or the strongest. He just didn’t fit Samuel’s idea of a king.
This passage reminds us that God’s ways are not like our ways. God is interested in the heart rather than outward appearances. What is important to God is a person who is willing to listen to God, and to step out in faith. The people God wants are those who will trust God to guide, and equip, and strengthen them for tasks of ministry and leadership – perhaps in ways and places that they would not have chosen for themselves.
What can we take from this passage?
1. Like God, we need to look at the heart, and not choose (or dismiss) people because of their outward appearance or abilities.
2. When God calls us to ministry tasks, we need to trust that God knows us better than we do ourselves and sees potential in us.
Prayer:
O God who created our innermost beings, help us to view the people around us with your eyes. Help us to recognise potential in those we meet and encourage them to realise that potential. O God who calls and equips your servants, help us to step out in faith knowing that you will travel with us each step of the journey you have called us to. Amen.
Rev Pam Reed
NTC Registrar