Least Likely, Most Likely

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 16:11-12, And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”

There is so much that can be said about what took place in the choosing of David by God. As we observe the process that took place, it is easy to conclude that David was not thought much of by his own family. In verse 10 we read, “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The LORD has not chosen these.’” In hoping that one of his sons would be chosen by Samuel, as directed by the LORD, Jesse brought seven of his sons before him, but left out the eighth. David, in the mind of Jesse, and most likely his brothers, would be the last choice in their estimation. As a matter of fact, David, being the youngest, was tasked with doing the job of a servant, tending to the sheep. We know from the cultural practices of that time that being a shepherd was the least desirable thing to do. Yet, when Jesus was born, it was first announced to the shepherds who were tending the sheep. Here, we have a simple shepherd boy now being chosen as the young man who would later be known as the man after God’s own heart, King David. As we consider this, let us be encouraged in this, that God does not choose as man chooses. Many of us may think little of ourselves because of the way our parents treated us, the way our siblings or any other family member treated us. We bought into the feelings of worthlessness because of the way our teachers, so-called friends, or anyone else who ever mistreated us or abused us verbally or emotionally made us feel. However, we must not lump God into this category of persons. David was not even offered as a possible candidate by his own father. Yet, it was David who was God’s choice. What is even more amazing is that God already knew what David would do in the future. When he committed murder and adultery by having Uriah killed after his affair with his wife Bathsheba, in order to cover up her pregnancy, God already knew that when He chose David. As a matter of fact, the LORD called David a man after His own heart when speaking to Samuel, prior to this event (1 Samuel 13:14). There are many of us who shy away from serving the LORD because we have allowed men to convince us that we are not worthy to serve God. We have been judged because we were not smart enough, rich enough, tall enough, good looking enough, or whatever other vain quality they decided we did not possess. We allowed ourselves to paint of false picture of ourselves, based on how others treated us because we did not fit their idea of who we should be, or because they were simply cruel people who mistreated us. Somehow, we took on the blame for that and reasoned that it was because there was something wrong with us. Yet, in God’s estimation of who we are and what He sees, if we are born again believers, is simply that we are His children. Regardless of how others have treated us, and how little others may think of us, or how little we may think of ourselves, in Christ we are most valuable. Shall I prove it? Okay…Jesus died for you and me. Is that not enough to prove how much God loves us? Is that not enough to tell us that we are valuable to Him? When all David’s family could see was a servant boy who was not worthy to even be brought before Samuel as a possible candidate for God’s service, God said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” It is time that we put aside the judgments of men. We may have stumbled in our walk with the LORD, and now people judge us, condemn us, and count us not worthy to serve by their side. Well, we are here to serve the LORD, even if it means that we serve Him alone, relying solely on the LORD for our comfort and strength. The bottom line is that there is no one who can stop us from serving once God has chosen us for Himself. Let us take the false images others have created for us and give them over to the LORD. Once we do that, we will discover the freedom of being able to serve God as we see ourselves through his eyes, and not the vain eyes of men. To men we may be the least likely, but to God we can be the most likely, for His glory!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).