Turning The Inside Out

The life of David is perhaps the most detailed account of anyone in the Bible. We are able to read about his life from a young man, to his ascent to King of Israel, to his death. For a moment, however, I want you to set aside all that you now about David’s life and focus on the moment just before the prophet Samuel anoints him.

David is out tending the sheep, unaware that God has said to Samuel “I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons (1 Samuel 16:1, NASB).” God instructs Samuel: “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord (16:2).’” Samuel shows up in Bethlehem and invites Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice. David wasn’t even invited to join them. He’s still out tending the sheep. 

Samuel proceeds to look at Jesse’s sons who are joining him with an eye on anointing one of his sons: “When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (16:6-7).” 

Jesse’s seven sons pass by Samuel, “But Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these (10).’” Then something interesting happens: “And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are these all the children?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’”

Pause and think about where David is at this moment. He’s out tending the sheep. He is not aware that Samuel is in town for a sacrifice, or that his family has been invited to join Samuel. He has no idea that Samuel is there to anoint a new king. In fact, David is almost an afterthought. It’s like his dad suddenly remembered he had another son, his youngest out tending the sheep. 

Someone runs and gets David and brings him to Samuel. What was going through David’s mind? He must have been puzzled that someone came to get him. Was he surprised to learn that the prophet Samuel was in town and that he wanted to see him? Is that how you feel when God chooses you—when God comes calling to anoint you for a task he has for you? On the outside you may feel unqualified, but God looks at your heart, not how you appear to other people. 

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah (13).” When you answer God’s call and answer in obedience, trust him to equip you for the task he has for you–no matter how big and overwhelming it may seem. God may not reveal his full plan for you at that moment, but follow his lead and take the next step. 

It’s interesting what happens next after David is anointed by Samuel. After the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, “an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him (14).” Saul’s servants seek someone to play the harp so Saul will be well (16). Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.” So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock (18-19).”

If you take note of the last part of verse nine, David returned to tend the sheep after he was anointed. But now he is called, “a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.” It is evident that the Spirit of God is with him. This is the next step that David takes on a long road to being King of Israel—a road that is filled with trials.

We may feel like we are working in the wilderness doing ordinary things that go unnoticed by other people. You may feel like you are not useable by God—that you don’t have skills or ability to do great things for His kingdom. But consider David before he was anointed by Samuel. He was the youngest child, almost forgotten by his family, tending sheep. God knew David’s heart and called him to the task he had prepared for him. 

When God calls you, respond in obedience to His call. Take the next step he asks you to do. Wait on Him and trust him to lead you to where he wants you to go. When David took the next step, he left tending the sheep and went to play the harp for Saul. We know the rest of the story, but at that moment David did not.   

Answering the Call

This post is part of the “Answering the Call” series. Join me each Tuesday morning as we explore the moment of decision for so many people in the Bible.

© 2024, Chris G. Thelen