1 Samuel 16:10
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
In this passage, Samuel is sent by God to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel. Samuel doesn’t know who this man is, so he reviews seven of Jesse’s sons. Samuel initially thinks Eliab is the chosen one because of his outward appearance, but God corrects him, saying that He looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. Despite seeing all seven sons, none are chosen by God.
This powerful truth should give us great comfort. Even though all of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel, none were chosen to be king. Samuel then asks if there are any other sons, and Jesse mentions his youngest, David, who is tending sheep. Jesse had intentionally kept David from Samuel, denying him the opportunity to be considered as the next king. However, God knew of Jesse’s interference and David’s neglect. God’s plans are never thwarted by human actions.
Have you ever been denied an opportunity or not even given a chance? Just as God knew David’s circumstances, He knows ours too. With God, there are no mistakes. This truth should bring us great peace. Life is full of disappointments, but we must not let them bother us. If God has something for us, we must patiently wait for Him. While we wait, we should be faithful to our responsibilities and trust God with the outcome.
David was faithfully tending sheep, and God ensured that no mistake was made—David was to be the next king. Samuel was moved to anoint David according to God’s plan. This story reminds us that God’s timing and plans are perfect, even when we feel overlooked or denied opportunities.
Devotional by Pastor Rod Holler, Sr.