This week’s reflection provided by Teresa Jewell:
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
I know this passage is very familiar to most of us. In this passage, God spoke to the prophet Samuel telling him to go to Bethlehem to find a man named Jesse, for God had chosen one of his son’s to be king.
Jesse had 8 sons; 7 of whom he presented, one at a time to Samuel. After each of Jesse’s sons was presented, Samuel said, “This is not the one The Lord has chosen.” Finally, Samuel asked of Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest but he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” Jesse was told to send for this youngest son, David. The Lord told Samuel to anoint him; he is the one. The Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.
This passage appeared in my daily devotions not too long ago. It has spoken to me personally, for many years! As a “vertically challenged” young person and adult who struggled to fit in–as many do–I found strength from the story of how The Lord chose Jesse’s son David, as King. When asked to present all of his sons to Samuel, Jesse didn’t even give a thought to fetching his youngest goat-/sheep-herding son, but God knew the plans he had for Jesse as he does for each of us. Plans that we can’t even imagine. From the time we are born, He is molding, shaping and using us for His glory. From the shortest, the quietest, the meekest, to the seemingly uncoordinated, uncooperative, academically challenged, the physically challenged, He has incredible plans for each of us who feel unworthy, unloved, invisible, incapable, homeless, sickly–you and me!
Music has always spoken to me more than mere words so it’s not surprising that this song by Ray Boltz, a Christian artist, brought this message to life in his song entitled, The Shepherd Boy. Here’s the link for you to watch and listen.
