The Choice of David
I remember playing sports in middle school especially the dreaded playground dodgeball game at recess. The captains would be chosen and then it was the strongest, tallest and most athletic that would find themselves chosen on the team, then there was that scrawny, small young little kid that would be the last in line to make a team.
Today in the scripture passage ( 1 Samuel 16:1-13) we see God illustrate a truth about the way He chooses those on His team. That truth is “man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks from the heart”. (1 Samuel 16:7) Out in the field, God would choose a little shepherd boy, the youngest of eight sons in an unlikely family, living in a small obscure little village to be the next king of Israel.
Samuel the prophet had the honorable responsibility to anoint the next king but not until the Lord would tell him who was the right choice. So, one by one Jesse of Bethlehem brought his sons before Samuel, and one by one they were rejected as king by God. Samuel perplexed and confused asks Jesse, do you have any other sons? Jesse remembers his son David out in the field keeping the sheep, the youngest and the smallest of his tribe. Samuel says, get him here, we won’t sit until he arrives. When David arrives, the Lord speaks loudly to Samuel, “Arise and anoint this one, he will be the next king of Israel.” (1 Samuel 16:8-13)
What do we learn here about how God makes choices for those to be on His team and in His leadership?
#1. God often makes His choices “off the radar”.
While everyone was paying attention to Eliab, Abinidab and Shammah, God was paying attention to David. Maybe you feel insignificant, obscure or “off the radar” where nobody is paying attention to your life. Let me tell you my friend God is paying attention to every insignificant detail of your life. Time magazine may be paying attention to who they think is the most resourceful, popular, intelligent and influential human beings on the planet, but God is seeking those who are worshipping Him in the secret place, just like David out in the lonely obscure fields of life, writing songs of worship to his Creator God. So remain steadfast in those monotonous, insignificant details of your life, for God is watching you closely!
#2. God chooses to use a “messy” storyline.
God was not surprised by the jealousy, envy, hatred, adultery, murder, rape and incest that would eventually become a part of David’s story. He knew David was a bit of a dramatic, emotional roller coaster and yet He still chose Him. He knew David was the great grandson of a prostitute (Joshua 2:9-13; Matthew 1:5), and yet He still chose Him. Your messy storyline does not disqualify you from God’s choosing. Your mistakes, failure, regrets and shameful stories that mark your past does not determine nor limit God’s promises and purposes for you. God is intentional to use every detail of your messy storyline to show His redemptive storyline of love and grace!
#3. God loves a heart that can be shaped by His heart.
Leonard Cohen writes there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord. David’s music was something beautiful and harmonious to the melodies of God’s heart. Yet the heart is more than a melody, it is the seat of our entire being. The biblical “heart” is not an organ, but rather is the mind, will and emotional condition of the human soul. David’s heart was full of integrity. Integrity is not perfection, it is completeness, and when perfection was not met, and David’s character became marred by sexual sin and murderous plots, he repented and cried out to be reconciled back with God. (Psalm 51:10-12) David rallied others towards godly causes, he was loyal to his friend Jonathan, he had an incredible trust in God that led the Israelites to victory through Goliath and over the Philistines…David’s heart even though imperfect was harmonizing with the melodies of God’s heart.
#4. God will always provide the anointing for the calling.
The anointing in this passage relates to an installation of a person to a position. In the OT, anointing was used to make holy and reverent the position of King, Prophet, priest; reminding people of the the most honorable oath of that office. It was a “weighty” moment for the one being inaugurated. I can remember a time when I was serving as a youth and worship pastor in my very first position of ministry. The lead pastor had shared that he was going on a sabbatical and asked if I would serve as interim. Not only was this guy 8 inches taller than me and with much bigger shoes to fill, he was a West Point graduate, and I had just started in the ministry. But God would anoint this young “greenhorn” and the time of ministry was smooth and productive as I walked out in obedience the calling that God placed on my life for that season.
#5. God’s choice is always based upon His Sovereign Plan.
Even though God loved David’s heart, His choice was not made because of David. David’s story really wasn’t about David at all. A man after God’s own heart, is not so much about a man pursuing the heart of God, as it is God pursuing the heart of man. Saul had failed Israel and Samuel grievously, and he would not be the last king to do so. ( 1 Samuel 16:1-2) But God had reserved in the bloodline of David an eternal king, a Messiah, Christ the Lord, who would eventually save Israel and all mankind from the wickedness of their own hearts. God sought a man that He could place His own heart into. (Isaiah 11:10)
Fast forward to today, we are reminded that God sent His “heart” into the world, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16) When we call on His name, we are saved. (Romans 10:13) When we are saved, He becomes our Lord, and our wicked, evil heart is then replaced with the heart of God. (Exodus 36:26)
So, today, I leave you with this thought. God has chosen you to live your life from the perspective of His heart for this world. No matter how messy, insignificant, imperfect or weak you may seem, God chooses to place His purposes, promises and power in your heart. So, be kind, loving, patient and gentle, kindly breathing life and becoming the heartbeat of God to a world who is so desperately looking for love and hope in all the wrong places.