The parade of misfits marches on.
The one attempt at picking a king for Israel based on the criteria of "tall, dark, and handsome" has failed.
Saul may look the part, but lacked the heart.
A heart for God.
So Samuel is tasked with finding another and the anointing - sealing this future king.
There's that word anoint.
If you've been paying attention at our Gatherings, you get this word in Greek (Christ) or in Hebrew (Messiah).
Okay, back to the story. After some foot dragging by Samuel over fear that still-in-power Saul will have his head, God gives Sam an alibi. Go to Bethlehem with the intent to anoint a new king, but with the excuse you're just there to worship (sacrifice).
It might be worth pausing here. Samuel argues or at least protests God's calling and lives to tell about it. What does that tell you about God?
So Samuel hits Bethlehem searching for kingly material, alights on Jesse's sons, and immediately reverts back to "tall, dark and handsome."
The beauty pageant begins.
Eliab
Abinidab
Shammah
seven more . . .
Each one God rejects with one of the best lines in all of scripture. . . .
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. TheLord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”Thus the afterthought enters the picture - David - the youngest - not even invited to dinner.
Now albeit, David was "tanned and handsome" but by now we should know what God is looking for - a certain kind of heart.
David, was known as "a man after God's own heart."
Samuel anoints him in front of his brothers. The Spirit of God falls on him and begins to work on him.
The line of David begins.
Lots to be learned in this story. What's God speaking into your heart? How is the Spirit working on you?
No comments:
Post a Comment