#DailyDevotion The LORD Looks At The Heart When He Chooses David

1 Samuel 16:5-13 He purified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶When they came, he saw Eliab and thought, “Certainly here before the LORD is the one He wants to anoint.” ⁷“Don’t look at his appearance,” the LORD told Samuel, “or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees, because a man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks into the heart…” ¹⁰So Jesse had seven of his sons come before Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these. ¹¹Are these all the sons you have?” Samuel asked Jesse. “There’s still the youngest one,” he answered. “He’s watching the sheep.” “Send someone to get him,” Samuel told Jesse. “We won’t sit down till he gets here.” ¹²He sent someone who brought him. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and handsome. “Go ahead,” the LORD said, “and anoint him. This is the one.” ¹³Samuel took the horn of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the LORD’s Spirit came mightily upon David and stayed with him from that day on. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.

Well that’s quite dramatic isn’t it? We’re all prepared for the sacrifice. Samuel is looking at each of Jesse’s sons and they’re all good looking men. They must have looked like good fighters as well. Yet as these seven sons of Jesse pass by each one is rejected by the LORD. As the LORD said to Samuel, “God does not see as man sees, because a man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks into the heart.” You might remember Saul was a tall, good looking man when Samuel chose him to be king of Israel. But the LORD is looking for someone who was going to follow his directions when He gave it to him.

Well like Joseph in the past, or the ugly step child, or Cinderella, there is someone missing. Samuel asks if there are any more sons. Jesse says he has one more out watching the sheep. Well they finally bring David in from the fields. When the LORD sees him, he says, “That’s the one! Anoint him.” Now David wasn’t’ bad looking. He wasn’t particularly short. But he was the baby of the family (at least as far as the boys went). They did not think much of him. Yet we know sitting out there in the field he had saved his sheep from both a bear and lion. The LORD looks at men’s hearts. He knew David would do what He would command him, I’m speaking of directions as king.

This same LORD who looks at men’s hearts is our LORD Jesus Christ. John 2 says, “²⁵He didn’t need to be told about anyone, because He knew what was in him.” Jesus, David’s descendant, was also anointed with the Holy Spirit at baptism, with ointment at Bethany, and set him apart from all men and make him both LORD and Christ by his resurrection from the dead. He is your king if you will have him. He has done all the LORD our Father commanded him, redeeming us from sin, death and the power of the devil. He has won for you eternal life and offers it to you freely to make you a citizen of his kingdom which has no end.

Heavenly Father, as David was chosen to lead Israel, you chose Christ Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Strengthen our faith in him so we may be his citizens in his kingdom which has no end. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.