I work in a Grocery Store in town and I usually work in the Produce Department for the most part. I have seen my share of good fruit and bad fruit and good vegetables and bad vegetables. There have been times when I have to cut open a watermelon. So, I will try to find a good looking one to cut open. Most of the time they look really good on the outside. They are green and smooth with maybe a hint of yellow on one side where it sat on the ground as it grew. Sometimes I cut a watermelon open to find out that the inside isn't good. It looked perfectly fine on the outside, but the inside was bad.
That got me thinking about the time in the Old Testament when the Lord sent Samuel the Prophet to find a new king for the nation of Israel. The Lord rejected their first king, Saul, because he disobeyed the Lord on several occasions. The Lord sent Samuel to find a man named Jesse and he lived in a small town called Bethlehem. We can find that account in I Samuel 16:1-13 which says,
"1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.”
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Samuel obeyed the Lord and went an found Jesse and his sons. The Lord had mentioned to Samuel that one of Jesse's sons was going to be the new King. When Samuel saw Eliab, one of the son's of Jesse, he thought to himself, "Surely this is the one the Lord has chosen."
But the Lord quickly set Samuel straight and said, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things a man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Samuel was looking at the outward appearance of Jesse's sons to try to figure out whom the Lord wanted to be the new king. The Lord doesn't work like that. He doesn't look on the outside of the person. He looks directly into the persons heart. He is the only One who knows each persons thoughts and state of mind. He is the only One who knows our motives and what lies at the very core of our being. He knows where our hearts lie.
The Lord chose one of Jesse's sons that wasn't even considered worthy to be invited to meet with Samuel the prophet. The youngest son of Jesse was overlooked. Isn't that always seem to be the way things seems to go. After all what does the youngest know or what could he possibly do.
Young David was off tending his father's sheep. Samuel told them to send for them and they waited for him to come. They waited and waited. They didn't even set down to eat until he came.
Then when he did arrive we get this description, "He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features."
Samuel was up to his old tricks and ours too, he was looking at David's appearance.
Then the Lord spoke up and said to Samuel, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in front of all of his brothers and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David, this ruddy shepherd, in power.
This David would eventually become the king of Israel and from his lineage would come the Good Shepherd, the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Only the Lord knows what truly is in a person's heart.
Let us make sure that our hearts are right with the Lord by confessing and repenting of anything that is hindering our walk with Him.
Lord,
Search our hearts and see if there is any wicked way within us.
Form within us a heart for You and a love for others.
Direct our steps.
Help our hearts to be full of love and thanksgiving for all You have done and continue to do.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
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