Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 18, 2022
Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and get going. I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have found my next king among his sons.” 2 “How can I do that?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears of it he’ll kill me!” “Take a heifer with you,” the LORD replied, “and say, ‘I have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make clear to you what you should do. You will anoint for me the person I point out to you.” 4 Samuel did what the LORD instructed. When he came to Bethlehem, the city elders came to meet him. They were shaking with fear. “Do you come in peace?” they asked. 5 “Yes,” Samuel answered. “I’ve come to make a sacrifice to the LORD. Now make yourselves holy, then come with me to the sacrifice.” Samuel made Jesse and his sons holy and invited them to the sacrifice as well. 6 When they arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, That must be the LORD’s anointed right in front. 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the LORD sees into the heart.” 8 Next Jesse called for Abinadab, who presented himself to Samuel, but he said, “The LORD hasn’t chosen this one either.” 9 So Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “No, the LORD hasn’t chosen this one.” 10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD hasn’t picked any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all of your boys?” “There is still the youngest one,” Jesse answered, “but he’s out keeping the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel told Jesse, “because we can’t proceed until he gets here.” 12 So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The LORD said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The LORD’s spirit came over David from that point forward. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.
Good Morning, Look within to see God’s love!
The story of the anointing of David reveals one of the ways that God’s ways are different. When Jesse gathers his sons to see which will be chosen, young David who was in the field tending the sheep was not even called in to be considered. After all, he was the youngest and typically would not have been included in the “adult” gatherings.
As Samuel examined the seven older sons of Jesse, God directed Samuel to go to the next one. Jesse’s sons all had the outward appearance of one to receive the blessing of the Lord, but God looks inwardly into our hearts. David who was small in stature was selected by God to be the next king based on what was in his heart.
We’ve all heard the sayings like don’t judge a book by its cover, but no matter how hard we try to be open-minded sometimes our cynicism creeps in when we view someone who doesn’t look as we do. As we age and lose our youthful appearance, we fear that others judge us based on our wrinkles and gray hair. I remember in one of those futuristic movies of the 80s or 90s when an “old” person was discovered living in a cave and he was asked if the wrinkles “hurt” because they had never seen someone past the age of 30.
Everything that we are and are yet to become is shaped and molded by each of our experiences along the way. I like to think that each wrinkle and gray hair represent lessons learned and the growth of God’s love within me. Without aging, imagine the beauty of God’s creation that we would never see. Focus and embrace God’s majesty in each sunset, sunrise, rainbow, night sky, flowers, and most importantly all God’s children.
We must turn on our heart lights so that we can see as God sees.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Your handiwork surrounds us. May we never be so consumed with being busy that we miss the beauty around us. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God’s beauty surrounds me. I only need to stop and notice it.
See with your heart! Pastor Liz
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