Last week we saw that God wants
100% commitment to Him. King Saul, the first king of Israel was
unfortunately not 100% committed to God and therefore God chose
another king for Israel. He then sent Samuel to go to Bethlehem and
to anoint a new king for Him there. God gave him specific
instructions saying that he should have a sacrifice there and that
he should invite Jesse and his sons. Samuel was 100% obedient and
he went and followed God's instructions.
Jesse and his sons came and Samuel
looked at each of them. His first reaction was that Eliab must be
the new chosen king. But God's reaction is so beautiful to me:
"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
16:7
God looks so differently than us,
and yet today we can also look as He does, because we have the mind
of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We simply need to let go of our ego
who wants to look out of the world's glasses and take a hold of His
Spirit and see as He sees!
Samuel stayed obedient and asked
that Jesse call his other sons too. One by one they walked past,
but God didn't choose any of them. It was only when Samuel asked
whether all of Jesse's sons were there that Jesse actually thought
of David. David was out tending the sheep and his father didn't
even think to invite him. But when Samuel asked that he be sent, he
came and was anointed the moment he walked in, right there in front
of his brothers and father. Can you imagine how shocked Jesse and
his sons must have been? David was the youngest and in their eyes
the least likely to be anointed and yet this was what happened.
Today we must realize that God
works in wonderful ways. He doesn't look at this world as most of
us do. He looks at the heart and He sees potential. Can you imagine
how David must have felt? He wasn't even invited to this party. He
was looked down upon because he was the youngest and yet he was the
one being anointed.
Maybe you also feel like David
sometimes. You might feel that you are not as good-looking as the
rest, or you don't have the same talents that the others have or
you are always last to receive any promotion or any acclaim. You
might feel as if God has overlooked you when it came to gifts and
that God is 'talking' to everyone except you. You might feel as if
you are 'only looking after the sheep' and not doing something
important for God. But that is where you have it wrong. God doesn't
look that way. He looks at our willingness, our hearts dedicated to
Him, and once He sees that, your David moment will come. God is so
pleased when He sees a heart willing to serve Him. He is so pleased
when He sees that we want to obey Him wholeheartedly. He will honor
that. He will use you. Maybe not with worldly acclaim accompanying
it, but He will use you mightily for His Kingdom.
Just be patient. Be obedient in the
small things that God has placed on your path right now. Rejoice in
what He wants you to do right now, and do it to the best of your
ability. God sees your heart and before long your David moment will
come. He will honor you and lift you unto a new plain of influence.
Once again not as you would think in the world, but on a spiritual
level second to none. Look forward to it whilst 'tending your
sheep'. Your time will come.
Father we look forward to our David
moment. Thank you that we can know that You know what is best for
us and what will work for us. We trust You inexplicitly with our
lives and we want to be obedient right there where we are. Show us
the way Lord! In Jesus' Name. Amen