David didn’t start out as a king. He started out as the kid brother of Jesse’s boys. He was so insignificant that when the Lord told Samuel to “go to Bethlehem (and) Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king,” (I Samuel 16:1, NLT), David’s father didn’t even call him in from the field when he lined up the rest of his sons for Samuel’s inspection.
And Samuel, being human, did what humans do. When he arrived at Jesse’s home in Bethlehem, he saw good-looking, muscle-bound “Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!’” (I Samuel 16:6).
But what did God say to Samuel? “Don’t judge by his appearance or height… The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). God knew exactly what Samuel had been thinking, so this statement was not only a rejection of Eliab as the king to replace Saul, but a reprimand to Samuel for judging “by outward appearance.”
Scripture goes on to tell us that “In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these… Are these all the sons you have?” (I Samuel 16:10-11a).
And then Jesse had one of those “oh yeah” moments – he remembered little ol’ David: “There is still the youngest… But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats” (I Samuel 16:11b).
Just a kid. Insignificant to his brothers. Insignificant to his father. Important to his Heavenly Father.
You may have been the kid that felt rejected. Even now, you may feel completely insignificant. But you aren’t. You’re important to God.
In the movie “The Help,” Mae Mobley was a precious little girl whose mother had no time for or interest in her. But Aibee, the family maid, loved her as if she was her own. And every day she would tell her: “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” Aibee’s love and encouragement was a tremendous blessing to Mae Mobley.
The English may not be correct, but the sentiment is 100 percent accurate: “You is important.” God loves you. And His Holy Spirit “looks at the heart” and speaks words of encouragement to those attuned to Him.
If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have royal blood flowing through your veins. You have a Heavenly Father who “will never leave your or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b, HCSB). Nor will He ever ignore you or consider you insignificant. He has a perfect plan for your life if you’ll only listen and follow His guidance.
Copyright © 2012
Judy Woodward Bates
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