1 Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
The Lord sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the next king. The people had
apparently heard about the confrontation between Saul and Samuel and how the
Lord had announced the kingdom would be taken from him. They were frightened
and uneasy when they saw Samuel. "And the elders of the town trembled at
his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?" (1 Samuel 16:4) They seemed
to think that Samuel had come as an adversary instead of a friend. Samuel
assured them that he was there on a peaceable assignment from the Lord. He
called Jesse, the father of David, and all his family to the sacrifice.
I'm sure you remember how Jesse brought all his sons except one. When Samuel
asked Jesse about his sons, he brought the eldest son first. This was not the
one appointed by God. He then went through the seven sons that he had brought,
but the Lord had not chosen any of them to be the next king. "And Samuel
said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet
the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse,
Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither." (1
Samuel 16:11) Jesse sent for David, the youngest son, to come to the sacrifice.
The first thing I want us to see about David is that he was faithful to his
father. While all the others were assembled for the meeting, David was tending
his father's sheep. People used to say that children should be seen and not
heard. But God had other plans for David. When he arrived, most would
think he was much too young to even be noticed. He was young and "rosy
cheeked" and some would even say he was a beautiful young man. Maybe they
would have thought he was much too young to even be considered; yet, God said,
"This is the one!"
"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his
brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day
forward." We now look back at today's text. We hear this verse quoted so
very much; yet, I have to wonder if we understand the depth of it.
"... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." And I have
to wonder if we truly believe it enough to put it into practice. What I see
about today's verse is that God takes those things which we seem to overlook
and use them to accomplish His will and purpose. We see things and weigh them
according to the "scales of the world's viewpoint." We look at the
strongest, brightest, wisest, most notable people; but, our God is able to take
that which is least and accomplish the most out of it. I am reminding myself,
and possibly others, that we can never discount God's ability to use one that
Goliath called, "for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair
countenance." He went so far as to call him a little stick; BUT GOD made
the difference. He always does!
1 Come, Thou Almighty King, help us Thy name to sing;
help us to praise: Father, all glorious,
o'er all victorious, come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2 Come, Thou Incarnate Word, gird on Thy mighty sword,
our pray'r attend: come, and Thy people bless,
and give Thy Word success: Spirit of holiness,
on us descend.
3 Come, Holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour: Thou who almighty art,
now rule in every heart, and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of pow'r.
4 To Thee, great One in Three, eternal praises be
hence, evermore. His sov'reign majesty
may we in glory see, and to eternity
love and adore!