Jesse's Sons Stand Before Samuel's Choiceby CBPepper
16:91 Samuel 16:9
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
Jesse brought forward Shammah, one of his older fine-looking sons, for Samuel to examine as the Lord's anointed king, and the word concerning him was that the Lord had not chosen him. His passing by with the other sons and being refused belongs to the sifting in which none of those presented was selected.
God instead chose David, the youngest, a lightly regarded shepherd boy, and appointed him to reign over Israel as Saul's successor. The throne promised to him was the kingdom over which Saul had reigned.
Samuel was inclined to favor the elder sons for handsome countenance, fine stature, outward appearance and promise, yet they lacked the qualities God required in a ruler. David was chosen not for stature or appearance but for faithfulness and character, for simplicity and sincerity, and because he could be trained for the kingdom. The reason is that man looks on the outward appearance while the Lord looks on the heart and does not choose as man chooses, seeing capacities and worth that others overlook.
That choice and the promise of the throne show that faith in God's promise can enable one who seems weak to stand against established human power. So David the shepherd lad, holding God's promise of the throne, stood against Saul the established king when Saul sought to keep his power.
Abner knew of David's divine appointment to succeed Saul, yet after long hunting and pursuing David he remained unwilling for Jesse's son to succeed. Under Saul's influence he despised the man God had chosen, and from ambition and revenge sought his own exaltation by raising up Ishbosheth and creating division in Israel.
The refusal of noble-appearing sons proves that human judgment by outward appearance cannot tell which young people are most promising or will render the best service to God. Therefore only a few must not be picked out for thorough training while the rest are neglected. All the youth need broad, general and thorough education to fit them for usefulness, that they may become laborers together with God.
Jesse brought forward Shammah, one of his older fine-looking sons, for Samuel to examine as the Lord's anointed king, and the word concerning him was that the Lord had not chosen him. His passing by with the other sons and being refused belongs to the sifting in which none of those presented was selected.
God instead chose David, the youngest, a lightly regarded shepherd boy, and appointed him to reign over Israel as Saul's successor. The throne promised to him was the kingdom over which Saul had reigned.
Samuel was inclined to favor the elder sons for handsome countenance, fine stature, outward appearance and promise, yet they lacked the qualities God required in a ruler. David was chosen not for stature or appearance but for faithfulness and character, for simplicity and sincerity, and because he could be trained for the kingdom. The reason is that man looks on the outward appearance while the Lord looks on the heart and does not choose as man chooses, seeing capacities and worth that others overlook.
That choice and the promise of the throne show that faith in God's promise can enable one who seems weak to stand against established human power. So David the shepherd lad, holding God's promise of the throne, stood against Saul the established king when Saul sought to keep his power.
Abner knew of David's divine appointment to succeed Saul, yet after long hunting and pursuing David he remained unwilling for Jesse's son to succeed. Under Saul's influence he despised the man God had chosen, and from ambition and revenge sought his own exaltation by raising up Ishbosheth and creating division in Israel.
The refusal of noble-appearing sons proves that human judgment by outward appearance cannot tell which young people are most promising or will render the best service to God. Therefore only a few must not be picked out for thorough training while the rest are neglected. All the youth need broad, general and thorough education to fit them for usefulness, that they may become laborers together with God.