God sees beyond the physical
King David • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Captain America - Roger - why was he chosen?
The Dr witnessed Rogers determination and signed papers for him to join. He was surrounded by his “brothers” in uniform. What was the determining point? Grenade!
Everyone else ran, but Steve jumped on the Grenade. Willingly sacrificing himself. WHy? Because his heart was the heart of a champion.
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.”
The Lord tells Samuel, Saul is through, go here, to this person, because I have already selected MY choice for human king.
and oh by the way, remember the words previously stated in Chapter 13!
but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.”
All the way back at the first time Saul disobeyed the Lord, God had ALREADY told Samuel and Saul that HE had chosen someone else!
Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”
The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”
Let’s remember: Who is Jesse? Where did Jesse come from?
Samuel knows that he is going to be anointing the next king. He knows that Jesse has to be there.
Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
Now this question may seem strange, but remember: Samuel is the Judge. He is not just a priest or prophet, Samuel Judges the nation. HE may have retired a few chapters ago, but that does not mean that his presence does not still strike people with fear and trembling.
“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
I want to point out a few things that are important here:
Samuel says he comes in peace. That is reassurance.
He went to Bethlehem to sacrifice. Now you may gloss over this; but the type of sacrifice that would be done here goes along with the words Samuel used: Peace. This would not have been uncommon and would have been seen as a blessing to the people of Bethelehem. This would be a fellowship offering.
So he comes in peace to Bethlehem and is bringing a fellowship offering.
Little did the people know that there was something special happening as well.
Samuel tells the people to Consecrate themselves.
This was a process. It was a repenting of sins. Washing themselves. Washing the cloths. covering their homes with prayer. Ensuring that they were in the holiness that God commanded, and covered as God commanded.
Jesse and his sons arrive.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.”
This son must have been something special. Samuel sees with his eyes something truly amazing. The first born. Looks good. Probably tall. Handsome.
See the common thought process of people at the time, especially in monarchy (much like today) is that the first born is the one that gets the most of the inheritance, the most of the blessing, and all of that.
But God has already shown us that He does not do things the way that man does things.’
Think of Genesis.
Esau was the oldest - Jacob the youngest. And long before Esau sold his blessing for a pot of stew, God has stated that Esau would serve Jacob.
Look at Joseph - he was not the oldest, and yet God chose him.
So Samuel sees with his eyes and is impressed. But God has something different in store.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
Appearance - beautiful word: means luster, brilliance
it also means phenomenon - what your eyes see but you can’t understand
Stature - great height, powerful style
Everything God says here - including the line: humans see what is visible - EVERYTHING tells us that we should STOP relying on what we see.
Man think about the power of that statement!
Things that glitter and shine can lead you to death - just ask a fish!
God says do not be driven by your eyes, I am teaching you something powerful. God sees our heart.
Listen: you can deceive people physically. You can look like you have it all together, but God sees what no man can see. God sees your heart.
Now we are not talking about the muscle that beats and causes cardiovascular circulation.
The Heart - the inner man, the will, the soul,
The Heart: who you are when only God is around to see!
It is the INNER CORE of who you are.
Unlike man, God cannot be fooled! God sees. So let me ask you a question, something to chew on:
Are you trying to fool God?
Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”
Son after son - nope - not this one. Oldest to youngest. All probably old enough to be King. Samuel knows the Lord will identify the right person.
Jesse and the sons probably think this is just some blessing to be poured out.
God knows that the one that is being sought, is not here.
“There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.”
The YOUNGEST. Out tending sheep.
This is a common thing. Tending the sheep is not difficult. Rhett likes to go out and take care of our animals.
This is proper upbringing. Teaching.
Samuel says: We won’t sit down until he arrives.
So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance.
Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”
How old was David at this point?
It is commonly believed that David was between 10-15 years old.
Appearance:
Ruddy - commonly associated with red - suggesting sun tan - time spent outdoors. Which makes sense because what was David doing?
healthy, beautiful eyes
Let’s look at this a moment:
Saul - towered over others. He had a kingly appearance.
David - God says I am not looking at appearance.
Don’t think this means David was ugly. Because that is still looking at what the eyes see, not what the Lord sees.
Saul - heart of a coward. Heart that chose his own understanding and repeatedly rejected the Lord’s ways.
Every victory Saul could claim was handed by the Lord, but Saul took victory. And if you actually go back and read 1 Sam you will discover that Saul’s victories were won by his son Jonathan, because Saul was too afraid to do anything.
David - God saw David’s heart! God said he was a man after God’s own heart.
and what we will learn is that David loves the Lord and trust the Lord like no other.
But does this mean that he is perfect? absolutely not.
God is not looking for perfection. God seeks obedience.
So here is David. Young. Youthful. Handsome. Innocent eyes.
Standing surrounded by his family. Father. Older brothers. Perhaps others.
Samuel anoints his head with oil.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
