Jesse's Sons Stand Before Samuel's Choiceby CBPepper
16:81 Samuel 16:8
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
Jesse brought forward Abinadab, a noble-appearing older son, to pass before Samuel to be examined as the one to be anointed, and the Lord refused him and did not choose him to be king. He stands with all the elder sons, who were judged for handsome countenance and fine stature, and not one of these noble-looking sons was accepted, for all were rejected. Samuel had been sent to find the anointed of the Lord but at first judged by outward appearance, thinking that Eliab's fit appearance and the handsome countenance and height of stature marked God's choice. Yet God's guidance led him to reject that choice, for the Lord refuses choice by countenance and height of stature because people look on the outward appearance while the Lord looks on the heart.
God instead chose David the youngest son of Jesse, a mere shepherd lad and youth called from the field, and commanded that he be anointed and appointed him to reign over Israel on the throne. The choice was not for lofty stature but for faithful service, humility, and courage, for God saw potential and valued qualities in a child others overlook. This belongs to the account in which David as a shepherd lad had God's promise of the throne while Saul as the established monarch was determined to keep his power. It shows that trust in God's promise can stand against human power.
That appointment of David to reign was known to Abner, yet under Saul's influence Abner despised David. Stung by David's rebuke for failing to guard the Lord's anointed, Abner set himself in revenge to divide Israel and to exalt himself by making Ishbosheth king in opposition to God's appointment. Human judgment by outward appearance and promise cannot tell who will prove most promising, who has the qualities God values, and who will render the best service to God. Therefore reserving thorough education for a small selection of those who seem most promising cannot succeed.
Every child and all the youth need general education for service and usefulness, to fit them for places of responsibility and for labor together with God. The unlikely youngest like the shepherd youth may be the one God has chosen.
Jesse brought forward Abinadab, a noble-appearing older son, to pass before Samuel to be examined as the one to be anointed, and the Lord refused him and did not choose him to be king. He stands with all the elder sons, who were judged for handsome countenance and fine stature, and not one of these noble-looking sons was accepted, for all were rejected. Samuel had been sent to find the anointed of the Lord but at first judged by outward appearance, thinking that Eliab's fit appearance and the handsome countenance and height of stature marked God's choice. Yet God's guidance led him to reject that choice, for the Lord refuses choice by countenance and height of stature because people look on the outward appearance while the Lord looks on the heart.
God instead chose David the youngest son of Jesse, a mere shepherd lad and youth called from the field, and commanded that he be anointed and appointed him to reign over Israel on the throne. The choice was not for lofty stature but for faithful service, humility, and courage, for God saw potential and valued qualities in a child others overlook. This belongs to the account in which David as a shepherd lad had God's promise of the throne while Saul as the established monarch was determined to keep his power. It shows that trust in God's promise can stand against human power.
That appointment of David to reign was known to Abner, yet under Saul's influence Abner despised David. Stung by David's rebuke for failing to guard the Lord's anointed, Abner set himself in revenge to divide Israel and to exalt himself by making Ishbosheth king in opposition to God's appointment. Human judgment by outward appearance and promise cannot tell who will prove most promising, who has the qualities God values, and who will render the best service to God. Therefore reserving thorough education for a small selection of those who seem most promising cannot succeed.
Every child and all the youth need general education for service and usefulness, to fit them for places of responsibility and for labor together with God. The unlikely youngest like the shepherd youth may be the one God has chosen.