Autumn rises with the day in the fields where sheep reside… sun glimmers… David tends the flock. Rugged as the earth and steady as the sea, he shepherds day in & day out.

It’s the makings of a King.

David’s shepherding is just the beginning.

there’s a well flowing

underneath the land

where the sheep feed

and the sun bleeds

into the dusk where doves keep

searching for the heavens

soon to open

it’s a water I’ve come to drink

with a nourishment running deep 

within me

and my soul knows the dripping

for the water is overflowing

from the Lord

God is choosing a king who is after His own heart. Who reflects the heart of the One true King of the universe… the King of kings: Jesus Christ.

In 1 Samuel 16, God seeks one to anoint as king over Israel. The former He has rejected: Saul. Be cautious when people choose, for God chooses who He anoints, not what appeals to people. Saul was chosen by Israel because they wanted a king to lead them… they forgot God was their King. God rejects what they placed above Him. For Saul dishonored God’s statutes.

“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.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16:1‬ ‭

Now the Lord tells Samuel in verse 1, “go to Jesse’s house… I have chosen one of his sons as king.”

 

Minutes leading up to this, David is unaware. He is taking care of the sheep faithfully.

David is going to be given the greatest mantle for the people of Israel: King.

But his father left him outside when the prophet Samuel came.

I wondered why did his father leave him outside? God said… Jesse assumed he wasn’t the one.

We cannot make assumptions about people. God will often pick who you least expect because God “looks at the heart” as verse 7 says.

People may try to limit what God wants to accomplish. And dishonor what God intends to honor. But God will still have His way, for He will not let anything usurp His decision.

Therefore, He enlists the prophet Samuel to be His mouthpiece, one who hears from the Lord and obeys Him no matter what.

As the Samuel walks by all of the sons in the room, God tells Samuel that he does not choose any of these sons.

The prophet Samuel kept listening to the Lord.

“Are all your sons here?” Samuel asks Jesse in verse 11. Jesse replies that he has one youngest son named David out in the shepherd’s fields. So they send for David to come in.

When David enters the house, Samuel hears from the Lord…

“And 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.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭16:12‬

I was surprised to read the physical handsomeness articulated in this passage by the Lord because He makes it clear that He is not choosing David for his looks but for His heart. Because earlier, the father had his sons pass in front of Samuel so that Samuel could see what they looked like in order to make a good impression. But God said I don’t look at the appearance but the heart in verse 7.

Yet David is described as very handsome here.

This tells me that God does not dim down beauty just because he focuses on the heart. It’s clear that David possesses BOTH. And this is so good because it’s symbolic of Jesus’ beauty.

King Jesus is the most beautiful One you could every glimpse and the most holy one in heart you could ever glimpse.

Thus, if we are to only base our assumptions on people for their looks we will miss their heart. And the older sons who were handsome may have had the physical beauty but they did not have the heart. David had both, even though he was younger. This doesn’t mean we base on appearances. But it does mean that God designed David specifically in this way to be a symbol of Jesus’ coming reign as King… one of both beauty and purity.

Jesus Christ… He is the King God chooses. He is God. And He is the One who rules the universe and everything in it. He will lifted above every other name and every other king forever…❤️

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
    and gave Him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

 

Jesus reigns supreme.

I love how Samuel was able to hear God’s voice clearly even in the fogginess of Jesse’s obliviousness. Jesse did not understand what God was looking for and so he could not offer that nor aid Samuel. But Samuel did not need Jesse’s help in understanding which son was the best choice for the kingship.

He only needed God’s help.

God’s voice.

When God speaks and you know Him intimately, you know it’s His voice instantaneously.

This is why it’s so important for us to know God’s scripture inside and out because it speaks to our hearts. God will never contradict His word.

If you want to know if God is speaking to you, filter it through what He said in His Word.

God’s words are the only words that take priority.

And God gets to choose who He calls and anoints.

God speaks a calling over your life… because He made you uniquely and beautifully. And it’s not anyone else’s jurisdiction to decide that. Only God chooses your calling. And He designs you for it so you will be equipped for it.

David is chosen and anointed as king right then.

Notice verse 12 says, Samuel heard from the LORD. Not from the people. Not from Jesse. Not from anyone else other than God’s voice speaking to Him.

Don’t be quick to make assumptions or judgements based on what you see outwardly, for it may not be what God sees. As God what He sees and ask for discernment that aligns with the Bible and not with your own thoughts. Let His words alone be loudest and silence false voices.

“People look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” ♥️ 1 Samuel 16:7

God often chooses the ones people would not choose. He sees royalty and treasures that man neglects to see.

People will try to label you according to what they think you should be. But God will shatter that. People will try to categorize you into what kind of role you should play. But God decimates those walls.

you looked at me

and knew my frame

was built for more 

than what they say

You made me

delicately

woven 

enwrapped Me

beautifully chosen

to be Your bride 

envelop me

in Your arms of strength

propel me into your harvest’s

array of beloveds 

waiting to know you

hear You

see You

my vows and days belong to You

God sees what He planted in you… all the beautiful treasures within you designed for a purpose. He has a plan for you and you find it the more you seek Him. 

We need to understand Jesus is the treasure more than anything else before we can be entrusted with more. And God chooses the ones no one would have thought God would choose. 

God picks the ones nobody else would predict… to showcase His radiance & glory.

I’m reminded of when Jesus called His disciples.

He went to the fishermen… The unlikely ones… “Follow Me…” Jesus says. And they do! 

The disciples would go on to experience so much of Jesus in bodily form that so many did not… because the disciples were willing to give up their own lives to follow Him.

Jesus is not looking for perfection, but for someone who is willing. God chooses those who follow Him wholeheartedly and are all in, no matter what that commitment costs.

God trusted David with the kingship because He had seen David’s faithfulness out on the shepherd’s fields. That’s what deems the makings of a King. Or queen. One who seeks Jesus faithfully and gives themselves fully to His calling at hand. For then Jesus leads you into more for you can be trusted with it.

Seek Jesus… this King of beauty and passionate love. Fierce strength. Perfect holiness.

Your yes to Jesus unlocks more of Him. 

God’s words over you… the only calling you yield to.

And His confirmation of you… the only affirmation needed. ♥️

“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.”

1 Samuel 16:13