The Well
The Well |
|
Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Friday
May 2, 2008
Finally, the LORD said to Samuel, "You have mourned long
enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel. Now fill your horn with
olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I
have selected one of his sons to be my new king."
But Samuel asked, "How can
I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me."
"Take a heifer with
you," the LORD replied, "and say that you have come to make
a sacrifice to the LORD.Invite Jesse to the
sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me."
When they
arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the LORD'S anointed!"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for
I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't make decisions the way
you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD
looks at a person's thoughts and intentions."
Then Jesse told his son
Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is
not the one the LORD has chosen." Next Jesse summoned
Shammah, but Samuel said, "Neither is this the one the LORD
has chosen." In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to
Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen
any of these." Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you
have?"
"There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the
fields watching the sheep."
"Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not
sit down to eat until he arrives."
So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and
handsome, with pleasant eyes. And the LORD said, "This is
the one; anoint him."
So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took
the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David's head. And the Spirit of
the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on. Then
Samuel returned to Ramah.
1 Samuel 16:1-3, 6-13
Okay, we've been studying books of the Bible, but today we will start with a new study ¾ we will be studying a person ¾ King David. I'm way excited. I will mostly be writing new devotionals, but may slip in an old one here and there. King David is one of my favorite people in the Bible; I just relate to him in so many ways, maybe you do too. It is comforting to know that the Lord looks on our heart, not our physical attractiveness in choosing us to serve Him. He wants a willing heart and a spirit that will submit to His will. Do you have those qualities?
Samuel was a marvelous prophet of God who also served as a judge. Well, I'm glad he wasn't my judge, and I'm glad God didn't send him down to choose someone to organize Woes to Wows Ministries. He sure would have been disappointed in God's selection. I certainly was overlooked when it came to be chosen. I don't know the first thing about being an administrator or organizer or anything like that. The most important thing I ever organized was a Miss East Thomas pageant when I was nine.
When I read this verse I smiled thinking about the paradox God works out in His children. I think of Jesus' words about the least being the greatest and the greatest being the least in the Kingdom of God. My life is a good example of that I guess. It is almost like God told the Holy Spirit to indwell one of the most unorganized women in the world, a woman who had failed more times that there are letters in the alphabet, and build her up to organize a ministry to hurting people. Like David, when I was growing up I definitely wouldn't have been singled out as the most attractive or easy to get along with, but God saw my potential and used every one of my failures for His future glory in me. Isn't He awesome?
What about you? How has God taken your pain and used it for His gain and your future glory? Maybe your ministry is on the back burner of your life, just simmering until God says, "It's time!" Then again, maybe you too are at the organizational stage and, like me, are about ready to throw in the towel and greet people at Wal-Mart! Don't quit! Don't give up! God's timing is perfect. He really does know what He is doing with your life and He wants you to trust Him with everything. I did and look what He has done with me! If He can do this with me ¾ just try to imagine where He will take you!
Recently I have gotten several emails from people who are searching for God's will for their life. That is one of the reason's I felt so led to go in this direction. There is so much to learn from this precious man's life, I think you are going to enjoy this journey!
Father, I do feel that You have led me to use the life of King David at this time as an example of what You can and will do in the life of anyone who will just submit and allow You to remold and remake them. Lord, help us, instruct us, and guide us into the path that leads to Your will for us. We love You!
