1 Sam 15:1-17:30
An unexpected king?
After Saul is rejected as king in chapter 15:23
Then begins the search for the new king of Israel in 16:1:
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.”
As it begins even the great prophet of Israel Samuel, is taught a lesson about who God is and what he looks for in a leader in 16:6-7:
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 man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Samuel was still using man standards, but look were that had got Israel. The anointing of Saul who was a head taller than the rest of Israel, had lead to disobedience. The choice of David was unexpected. Or was it?
We have seen the unexpected chosen time and time again as we have moved through Gods word. Jacob, Joseph, Rahab, Ruth, and Hannah.
Is it then such a surprise that we have an unexpected saviour?
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isa 53:2b-5
Leave a Reply