1 Samuel 16:1-23
David’s name has been mentioned about a thousand times, making it the 2nd most popular. While Jesus was the most mentioned name having been mentioned for about 1500 times. But what do they have in common? Both were great leaders. We know that there are important attributes to look for, for picking good leaders, such as integrity, vision, wisdom, passion, etc., But even before we do that, we should be in period of prayer for proper divine guidance.
1. Ask the Lord for His divine guidance.
“The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 1 Samuel 16:1
· The prophet Samuel was mourning for Saul ever since God rejected him as king of Israel.
· God wasn’t happy about Samuel’s excessive grief because it showed he was more loyal to Saul than to Him.
· Though God allowed Saul to reign, but it was the people of Israel who insisted and chose to have a king like the kings of the nations around them. See 1 Samuel 8:4-7.
· The problem is not having a king, but the main reason for having a king – to be like the nations around them.
· Israel chose Saul because of his looks.
· Later, God revealed the emotional weaknesses of Saul that makes him unfit to be king of Israel. See 1 Samuel 16:14; 18:8; 19:9-10.
· We must avoid the same mistakes; thus, we need to pray to the Lord to choose leaders for us.
2. Ask the Lord to reveal the candidates’ heart to us.
“4 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 commanded the Bethlehemites to worship the Lord and consecrated themselves, so that the Lord may reveal to him His chosen one.
· God chose David, a lowly shepherd, the youngest of the 8 sons of Jesse.
· Though David has beautiful eyes and handsome, it wasn’t his appearance that God considered, but his heart that is after God’s own heart. 1 Samuel 13:14.
· God loved David because, unlike Saul, God personally chose him to be His divine representative to His people.
3. Ask God to reveal candidates’ spiritual gifts to us.
“14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.”… “21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.”… “David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” 1 Samuel 16:14; 21;23.
· David was gifted in music, acts of service, and later, writing.
· Service is a demonstration of love, trust, and obedience to the Lord.
· God does not expect you to be perfect in your service, but he expected you to use all your spiritual gifts and skills to serve Him.