September 6, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 16 (NIV)
Samuel Anoints David
1 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.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”.........Continue Reading
So many great things happen in this chapter that show just how God plans meticulously and in His timing! Verse 7 says…
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God does not measure us the way the world does…our appearance, our wealth, our success….none of this matters. He looks at our hearts and He saw David’s heart and anointed him as king but He wasn’t ready to start the job! Rather God uses the evil that Saul has succumbed to to be the reason David is moved into his position to get him ready for what was to come. So cool to see God’s plan move forward like this!
I saw something about God’s character in this chapter. When he asked Samuel to go and anoint David, Samuel voiced out his fear that Saul might kill him if he did it. I saw that God addressed this concern of his. He did not dismiss it as nonsense and even helped him find a way to avoid it.
God has the same regard for his other children, specially those whom he has chosen to carry out a mission. Notice that Samuel was in constant communication with God. I think my role is to keep my lines of communication with God open and get rid of those that might hinder them. Then I can be assured that God will hear my concerns.
Good point, Jill!
1 Samuel 15&16
1 Samuel – 16
1 Samuel 15, 16, 17
There is another very important principle in this chapter and that is that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. As God says, this is very different from how the world works. How biased we can be over someone’s appearance, their race, their stature or position. We would do well not to judge people in this way and treat everyone equally and with justice and showing no favoritism. It is interesting that no one expects David because he is still tending the sheep. But God chooses people from unlikely places. And to show that God isn’t opposed to using attractive people, it mentions that David is.
And isn’t it neat how David is brought into the king’s service. One wonders if this is intended to establish a camaraderie between David and Saul, so when hatred and jealousy begin to control Saul about David, God has provided this positive experience for Saul to reflect on. Otherwise it certainly gives David exposure to the responsibilities and protocols he will have as king. God certainly knows what He is doing whether He sends a good spirit or an evil one…..
It’s interesting that God tells 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.”
and then describes David: “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” David certainly had qualities that were appealing, but God’s point was that that is not how HE chooses.