“Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16.4-7
Samuel was a big deal — and we see this clearly from the reaction of the people in Bethlehem when he arrived. The “elders of the town trembled when they met him” and asked if he came in peace. Samuel responded that he had come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.
Before I continue, it’s worth noting how significant both Samuel’s arrival and the town of Bethlehem are in our history with the Messiah. Not only would Jesus be born in this very town a thousand years later, but Jesus would also come from the bloodline of Jesse and David — the very king Samuel was about to anoint. This anointing of David as king is essential to the story of Jesus, who would one day be recognized as King by the gifts of the Magi many centuries later.
Returning to Samuel, we see him arrive in Bethlehem, invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice, and then, upon seeing Jesse’s son Eliab, he thinks, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” And why wouldn’t he? Eliab, like his brothers, was a strong, brave young man from the tribe of Judah — a natural choice for a king. But God had other plans. In my own words, God essentially says, “Don’t be so hasty, Samuel.” What God actually says is, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This verse is one of my all-time favorites. It reflects a God who upends human expectations. Just as Jesus, the Messiah, wasn’t born in a palace or a castle, the future king of Israel would not be the obvious choice among Jesse’s sons. David was the last in line — the youngest, the least likely to be chosen. Yet, in this weakness, God’s glory was revealed. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
David was not the strongest or the most imposing. And Bethlehem was not the greatest town in Israel. But through these “least likely” choices, God revealed His strength and power.
When God considers men and women for leadership, He does not always choose the most popular, the richest, or the most talented. I find this incredibly comforting because I am a perfect example of His grace — and so are you. We are not the best or the brightest. We have faults, we sin, we stumble and fall. And yet, in His mercy, God invites us to join Him in His work.
So today, if you choose God, you’ll realize that God has already chosen you. He sees you as fit for His service, not because of your own merit but because He sees you in the light of His perfect Son, Jesus. Just as Samuel was sent to select David, God has chosen you to follow Him.
Will you follow? Will you serve? Will you abide in the love of the Lord and allow Him to use you for His glory? Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
“O Lord, on this day in the season of Advent, I give thanks for your power among us. I thank you that your Spirit resides in every believer. No longer is your Spirit selective, but now we experience a general filling, and we are enabled to join you in your work. Come now, Holy Spirit, have your way with me. Fill me with your power and grace. Protect me, guide me, and strengthen me as I say ‘yes’ to you. For you are good, and your love endures forever.” Amen