David the shepherd boy
Samuel the prophet has come to the family of Jesse on the Lord's business. He is to anoint the next King of Israel. The only problem he has is although God has told him where to go, he has not told him who to anoint, and Jesse had eight sons. So Samuel assumes that it must be the eldest son who is the chosen one- but God has other ideas.
The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
We hear clearly here the truth that we saw played out in the story of Ruth- that we are all significant to God, and whatever the world around us might think, He sees our heart and has great plans for us.
Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in....
The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him, for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. 1 Samuel 11-13
David's journey begins here, on his father's farm, with the shepherd's crook at his feet. Like so many of the characters in the Bible, he journeys with God not because he is privileged, or "in the right place at the right time", or well-qualified or well connected. In fact many of the stories we have read star people with the opposite qualities- prostitutes, widows, and now shepherd boys.
Our starting place never disqualifies us from taking part in the journey that God has for us, however far behind everyone else we might consider ourselves.
The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
We hear clearly here the truth that we saw played out in the story of Ruth- that we are all significant to God, and whatever the world around us might think, He sees our heart and has great plans for us.
Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in....
The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him, for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. 1 Samuel 11-13
David's journey begins here, on his father's farm, with the shepherd's crook at his feet. Like so many of the characters in the Bible, he journeys with God not because he is privileged, or "in the right place at the right time", or well-qualified or well connected. In fact many of the stories we have read star people with the opposite qualities- prostitutes, widows, and now shepherd boys.
Our starting place never disqualifies us from taking part in the journey that God has for us, however far behind everyone else we might consider ourselves.
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