Great Plains Daily Devotional for 12/7/2020

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 shares a powerful story about David. In going back and reading these scriptures what stands out to me is the process of how David was chosen.

Samuel as directed by God went to Jesse. His purpose was to select one of Jesse’s sons who would become king.

Jesse brought each son before Samuel. Yet over and over again each son was rejected. Finally Samuel asked Jesse do you have any other sons.

Jesse of course mentioned David. But in Jesse’s eyes David was the least of his sons. Jesse didn’t even feel that David was worthy of being considered. He was the Least of These.

How often in life has each of us been the Least of These. How many times have we been thought of as not even being worthy of consideration.

But what remains steadfast is the realization that while others or even the world may see us as insignificant, God sees the heart of each of us.

He knows the worth of all us. He does not see what the world sees, he says and values us as the apple of his eye.

During this time of the year we will deal with a myriad of emotions. The pressures of trying to perhaps measure up to others or seeking acceptance by others can if we are not careful tempt up to believe we are The Lease of These.

Dare I say we may feel that we are like David and at first glance unworthy.

But thanks be to God that his least is greater than the world’s best. For greater is he in each of us. This day may I be The Least of These such as David. Chosen to fulfill my calling in the Lord.

Prayer for Reflection

Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8