The Life of DavidSample

Day 8: 1 Sam 16 x Jeff + Michelle Hastings, Elders at UPPERROOM

1 Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God told Samuel that he would go and anoint the next king from among Jesse’s sons. As each son passed before him, Samuel heard God say “no” to each one. Only when David was brought in from the field did Samuel hear God’s confirmation of the new king.

A question worth pondering is: What did God see in David’s heart that qualified him for leadership?

David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, and as the youngest child, he most likely faced things common to the youngest child, such as being overlooked, not being heard, and not being valued as an individual. Almost unbelievably, when Jesse brought his sons before Samuel, David was left out in the field, overlooked and forgotten once again.

I would expect that David poured out those feelings to God when he was alone with the sheep and that many of his songs were sung with a tear-lined face. God met him in those painful moments, which established a heart-to-heart connection that was the foundation for the rest of David’s life. God saw him, and that was enough for David. He had a heart of thanksgiving for God’s provision and protection. He wasn’t striving to be known or recognized and was satisfied with where God had placed him in that season.

God looks at our hearts, and He sees the attitudes and motivations that no one else can see. A heart of thanksgiving, humility, and obedience are the attitudes that God is looking for in His leaders.

Prayer: Father, thank You for seeing our hearts. You understand and know us when no one else seems to. Not only do You see our hearts, but You desire to be one with us, in constant heart-to-heart communion with us. Thank You for working all things out for our good, drawing us closer to Your heart even in the difficult things. Just as David prayed in Psalms 51:10, we also pray that You would create in us a clean heart. We desire that our lives and the meditation of our hearts will be a pleasing fragrance to You, walking in thanksgiving and obedience to You. Thank You for the promises You have spoken over our lives. We hold them with an open hand and wait on You for the fulfillment of those promises. You are the author and finisher of our faith, and as we yield to You, we can trust You to transform our lives into something beautiful.