Set Apart

Good Morning!

We are created in God’s image – but not all of us are alike. God has apportioned to each one of us different talents and gifts and desires that make each one of us unique. The following passage is about when David was anointed to become king of Israel. Now we need to understand that just because David was anointed doesn’t mean he immediately became king – there was a good bit of time between the anointing and the fulfillment. I am sure there were times when David must have thought that Samuel made a mistake. And I know there are times when I wonder what God has in store for me. But let’s take a look at this passage:

1 Samuel 16:1-13 (English Standard Version)
David Anointed King
1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you." 4Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him." 7But 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 sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest,[a] but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." 12And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Footnotes:
a. 1 Samuel 16:11 Or smallest


Imagine being Eliab or Abinadab or Shammah or any of the other seven brothers of David. I wonder if they knew what God said to Samuel. I wonder if they were jealous of David when they saw Samuel anoint him. We don’t know – but we do know about ourselves. Maybe it’s just me … that little touch of envy when I see someone else getting something I want. But here’s the thing – God has appointed something special just for me – and it may not be what I think I would want – but He has set it aside just for me. The second half of verse 7 says it: “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, the Lord looks on the heart.” I am not going to be a king like David – but I am still going to be blessed in what God has given me to do – if and when I come to accept the portion He has allotted me. God has examined my heart and knows what is best for me.

We don’t’ hear much more about David’s brothers after the confrontation with Goliath. I am sure they returned from the war and began raising sheep like their father Jesse had done. I am also sure they saw David’s rise to power – and all the travails that accompanied his life. I wonder if they ever thought how lucky they were to not have been anointed that day. I wonder if they just thanked God for the life He had given them – recognizing He had made the right choice for them. Maybe being who I am and doing what I do is just right in God’s sight.

Blessings for this morning…

Agape’

Mr. Jim