When God Makes a Selection

 

When God Makes a Selection

1 Sam. 16:1-13

God clearly values inner character and faith over mere outer appearance, choosing the most unanticipated person for leadership. God looks much deeper to recognize good character.  We must force our judgment to peer deeper and ask questions that expose the correct kind of character. 

Is there Really a Difference?

Now compare the two concepts across other scriptures, realizing that true substance is far more important than public image:

1.     Character is What You Truly Are

·        1 Samuel 16:7. Accordingly, we must not judge people based on physical stature and outward presentation but evaluate the true condition of the character (the heart).

·        Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Our inward thoughts and motives dictate the reality of our actions.

2.   Reputation is Merely What People Think

·        Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.” While reputation has earthly value, it is incredibly fragile.

·        Ecclesiastes 10:1, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” It warns how easily a reputation can be ruined by a single unwise act.

·        Philippians 2:7 Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant...” Christ prioritized fulfilling His Father's will and perfect character over upholding an exalted public status.

3.   Two More Things Are Noteworthy Here:

·       David was the overlooked choice and selection of God. David was the youngest of eight sons. He was considered so insignificant by his own family that he was left behind in the fields tending sheep while his brothers attended a sacred feast. By choosing the most unlikely candidate, God demonstrated that He does not need human qualifications to accomplish His purposes.

·       The power of the Holy Spirit was permanently given (1 Sam. 16:13). When Samuel anointed David with oil, the Spirit of the Lord “came upon David from that day forward”. Anointing with oil was an symbol of being set apart for a holy, God-given mission. This divine dedication points to God’s anointing equipping the chosen individual with divine power, authority, and direction to fulfill this calling. This action represented unique and supernatural empowerment. Unlike the Old Testament era where the Holy Spirit occasionally came upon judges and kings for specific moments, this phrase indicates a permanent equipping of David for his ultimate destiny as king.

·       God judges the heart (v. 7). The principle of verse 7 has always been true: People do judge by looks, dress, and outward things. But today the mass media encourage this faulty outlook by using glamorous people in advertisements, television, and printed matter to such an extent that ordinary-looking people don’t seem as satisfactory as they should. Saul was tall, dark, and handsome. Actually, David was good-looking, too (v. 12), but still looked too young for major service. Unfortunately the church, especially on television, has often emphasized, not spirituality, but superficial glamor—with disastrous results when these TV idols fall.^[1]

In closing, the more we reject Bible-bases qualities the more we seem to embrace self-centered and materialistic traits without even realizing we are doing it. Things like beauty, physical attractiveness, handsomeness and a charming appearance have replaced God-honoring, productive, moral, consistent, and reliable attributes. Along with this fascination with appearances people have resorted to collecting diplomas and degrees, graduating from certain colleges, and certain state or federal certification. Neighbors care more about the house, the lawn, the car, the position, the amount made annually, and their carefully protected ‘image.’ People honestly believe these ‘advantages’ will serve them well…their goals will be realized. In all this God is on the outside waiting to be invited into our lives so we can stop pretending and finally get real. This emphasis consistently stresses God’s criteria for leadership—faith, humility, and integrity—are vastly different from the world’s measures. Beloved, we can finally start growing inwardly and externally to effect significant change. We are NOT ‘Pharisees’…so we can stop acting like them! It is time to permanently throw away the ‘mask’ and choose being real with God. Some individuals need to dethrone themselves, others need to stop worshipping ‘stuff and things,’ while yet others must break away from the grip of materialism. If we want our lives to mean something in the long run then it is time to join God by being real, authentic, a true disciple…. If we are real with Him, we will have little difficulty being real with people.

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 308–309.