Today’s Reading:
I Samuel 16:1-13 (3)
“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 man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’’ (1Sam 16 :7, NIV)
After an undetermined length of time in which Samuel lamented the rejection of Saul, the Lord commanded the prophet to go to Bethlehem to select a son of Jesse... to be king(1Sam16:1-3). Jesse was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:18-22) and so was in the line of promise. As Israel’s judge and prophet, Samuel had the right to travel where he pleased in serving the Lord and His people. But these were difficult and dangerous times because Saul was a suspicious man, and his spies would report anything Samuel did. From Samuel’s home in Ramah, the road to Bethlehem passed by Gibeah where Saul had his headquarters and Saul would want to know where Samuel was going and why he was going there. To avoid problems, God commanded His servant to take a heifer and announce that he would sacrifice a fellowship offering in Bethlehem for a select group of people, including Jesse and his sons. Then God would show Samuel which one to anoint as king. For inviting Jesse and his sons to this feast was a high honour, and nobody knew why Samuel included them except himself.
So insignificant was David in the family that Jesse his father did not even call him from the flock to the feast. David was busy caring for his father’s sheep because he was a man with the heart of a shepherd. Samuel was about to make the mistake of evaluating men by their physical gifts when God reminded him that the heart was the most important thing. After David had been anointed, the Spirit of God came upon him in great power and after that, David became God’s man but at the same time, the Spirit of God departed from Saul. Beloved, the church of God today is a flock, and each spiritual leader needs to have the heart of a shepherd and lovingly care for God’s lambs and sheep (1 Peter 5:1-3). A man can drive cattle, but one needs to lead the sheep, or they will scatter. The shepherd must know his sheep individually, love them and take care of them according to their needs. For the most part, sheep are defenseless and do not see well, so they depend totally on the shepherd to guide and protect them. David was exactly the kind of leader Israel needed to repair all damage that Saul had done to the nation. David’s anointing with oil brought him a special unction from the Spirit of God and from that time he became God’s man. Without the power of the Spirit, the servant of God is helpless to do the will of God and glorify Jesus Christ. As we abide in Christ, we receive the power we need, for Jesus said, ‘‘Without me you can do nothing’’ (John 15:5).
OYEYEMI GABRIEL OYEBISI
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the gift of life that I am receiving on daily basis, in Jesus name.
Father, help me to obey your instructions always, in Jesus name.
Father, forgive me for the errors and mistake I made by disobeying you, in Jesus name.
Father, renew your anointing in my life daily and fill me with your Spirit up to the brim, in Jesus name.
Father, give our leaders the heart of a shepherd, in Jesus Mighty name.
Father, keep our nations from mistakes that can lead to total rejection, in Jesus Mighty name.
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