God's Choice Is Surprising

1 Samuel 16:1-13

The Story
Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint the new king, When Samuel arrived there, he commanded Jesse to gather together his sons. They came before Samuel and passed before him one by one. It was in this process that God made known His choice of a king.

But God's choice was surprising.

The seven sons of Jesse were all fine physical specimens; their physiques having been refined and toned by hours of hard, physical labor. They all possessed the physical requirements to rule as a king. But none of them possessed the right kind of character traits. God sees what man cannot see!

God told Samuel that He did not look at the physical attributes of a man. God looks at the character of a man's heart. God looks for people of integrity and character. He wants people who are faithful and holy.

After the seven sons of Jesse had passed before Samuel, and all of them had been rejected, Samuel found out that there was another son. He was the youngest and he was with the sheep. David was so insignificant within the family that he was not even summoned with the rest of his brothers to enjoy the feast and the sacrifice.

When David walked in, Samuel saw a handsome young man, bright-eyed, with the blush of youth in his cheeks. God told Samuel to anoint David. Here come the king, rejected by men but was the very one picked by the LORD God!

Lessons

• God's choice is surprising in its rejection of physical requirements.
• God's choice is surprising in its requirement of the right kind of character traits.
• God's choice is surprising in its reception of those rejected by men.

Remember David, He was a nobody among his family but was God's choice for a new king.