The Heart Reveals More than the Eyes Can See
1 Samuel 16:1-12
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.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
Message Notes
When you think about the story of David and Goliath, what comes to mind?
Sermon points:
The size of your opposition can never be greater than the size of your God.
The size of my faith in God must always be greater than the size of my obstacles or opposition.
David, the son of Jesse, walks into that valley as a man despised and rejected by men, but chosen by God to defeat an enemy of God and turn God's people back to their relationship with their King.
Jesus, the SON of GOD, walks into the valley of death, fully God and fully man, despised and rejected by men, but sent by God to defeat the enemy of God and reconcile all who are in Him back into a right relationship with God, our King.
Be careful what you’re willing to lose because of the temptation of the eye; you may not see it, but your first offense will more than likely be against the God who gave you what you had in the first place.
Every time we live outside God's commands, we crown another king over our lives, and sometimes that king can be even us.
Sermon points:
The size of your opposition can never be greater than the size of your God.
The size of my faith in God must always be greater than the size of my obstacles or opposition.
David, the son of Jesse, walks into that valley as a man despised and rejected by men, but chosen by God to defeat an enemy of God and turn God's people back to their relationship with their King.
Jesus, the SON of GOD, walks into the valley of death, fully God and fully man, despised and rejected by men, but sent by God to defeat the enemy of God and reconcile all who are in Him back into a right relationship with God, our King.
Be careful what you’re willing to lose because of the temptation of the eye; you may not see it, but your first offense will more than likely be against the God who gave you what you had in the first place.
Every time we live outside God's commands, we crown another king over our lives, and sometimes that king can be even us.