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THE RAISING UP OF DAVID 1 Samuel 16 And it came to pass...God was seeking a shepherd for His people Israel. Israel's first king, King Saul, had failed due to his pride. The prophet Samuel was given the task to anoint Israel's next king. Precisely instructed by God, Samuel was to journey to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah. God had provided Him a king of the sons of Jesse. Following the previous pattern for choice of a king, Samuel looked on the eldest son Eliab, and expected that his seeking had ended. However, God's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways God's ways. God instructed Samuel to Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature...for the Lord seeth not as a man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. After all seven sons had passed before Samuel, the question was asked, Are here all thy children? Jesse spoke, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. When David was brought forth and anointed, the spirit of the Lord rested upon him. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want... And it came to pass...David, God's servant, was chosen and taken from the sheepfold to feed Israel, God's inheritance. He fed them according to the integrity of his heart and he guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. God provided a humble shepherd boy to be king to His people. And when God had removed Saul, He raised up unto them David to be their King; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse; a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus. God foreknew that David would serve Him, Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, had a heart of humility when faced with his own sin, and a heart of praise when he was embraced with God's forgiveness. Divinely inspired, David's psalms rejoice in God's faithfulness to forgive a repentant heart. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered...be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous. A relationship with God is always a matter of the heart. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And it came to pass...In faithfulness, God provided the Good Shepherd for His people, who laid down His life for the sheep. Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who was born in Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah, is God's anointed One. A Shepherd, a King and a Saviour is provided, Jesus Christ. Let us, like David, repent of our transgressions, seek the tender mercies of God, have a clean heart created within, and delight to do God's will—from the heart. God is faithful, Jesus is provided. Rejoice and praise Him all ye people! Hallelujah! ~ Rosemary Parrotta |