After God’s Own Heart

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.” (1 Samuel 16:1, NIV 1984).

My Musings– Saul was still the king and Samuel feared that “Saul will hear about it and kill me.” (1 Samuel 16:2, NIV 1984). But he left to do the Lord’s bidding anyway. Upon his arrival in Bethlehem, the elders “trembled …[and] asked, ‘Do you come in peace?'” (1 Samuel 16:4, NIV 1984). Lot of fear and trembling going in the kingdom.

Seven sons of Jesse were brought to Samuel. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider [their] appearance or [their] height, for I have rejected [them]. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV 1984). Perhaps their hearts were not totally in the wrong place, but not wholly what God was looking for. He was looking for “a man after my own heart; [one who] will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22, NIV 1984). Saul had proven that he would not do everything God commanded, and after looking into the hearts of Jesse’s seven oldest sons, the Lord also rejected them.

“‘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.’ 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.'” (1 Samuel 16:11-12, NIV 1984). The “runt of the litter” (kind of reminiscent of Joseph). Not even important enough to be there to greet the last judge of Israel. Too insignificant. Nevertheless, “he [was] the one.”

My Musings – You may be insignificant in the eyes of the world. A nobody overshadowed by somebodies. Just like David was overshadowed by his seven older brothers. Afterall, “not many of [us are] wise by human standards; not many [are] influential; not many [are] of noble birth.” (1 Corinthians 1:26, NIV 1984). But if you’re a child of The King, you were significant enough to die for. You may even be of some use in His Kingdom. For, “God [chooses] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God [chooses] the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He [chooses] the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, NIV 1984).

So, don’t worry about not being of “noble birth.” You are of noble “re-birth.” And the Holy Spirit is transforming you into a person “after [His] own heart.” People who once viewed you as just another “ordinary [person], [may just be] astonished and [take] note that [you have] been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NIV 1984). What better compliment could there ever be than that?