You can’t miss God’s appointment. 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Samuel was sent to anoint a king. God led him to the house of Jesse. Jesse had several sons. I’m sure they varied in height, skill, and gifting, but they were all Jesse’s sons. One by one, they came before Samuel and each time Samuel said “no, that’s not the one.” Samuel didn’t make this determination based on what he saw, but based on the leading of the Lord. At the end of the procession of sons, Samuel had to ask, “Is this all? I know that I’ve come to this house for a purpose, so there has to be more!”
So Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Then Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest. He is tending the sheep.”
Now, here is where I have heard it said that David’s father excluded him from the gathering purposely because he thought, “surely, this one can not be the King.” While others believe that it was just the custom that the youngest not be present at the gathering. Either way, David was not invited to dinner.
Samuel was so sure that he was at the right house that he said “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” Whether or not they intended for David to be excluded, nothing would continue until he was present.
So Jesse sent for him and had him brought in. . .Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
This very familiar story spoke clearly in my spirit today, and I hope that it will encourage you too.
There are somethings that you will be excluded from. It may be intentionally, or inadvertently. Either way, you will not miss your divine appointments!
The enemy tries to discourage us with rejection and exclusion. Sometimes it may feel like others are holding you back from walking into the vision God gave you. Dear friends, you’ve gotta keep on pressing. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been looked over. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been passed over. When God says, “you are the one” nothing can stop you.
What David did was key. He continued to walk in obedience. Earlier in this chapter, it says when Samuel came into the town the elders trembled, asking if he had come in peace. Surely, word had spread through the town of the priest coming to offer sacrifice. David had to know what was going on at the house. His brothers, most likely, spoke of this gathering. David, however, didn’t demand to be present or barge his way in. He continued to faithfully care for the sheep placed under his care.
There was no way David was going to miss this divine appointment! And you shouldn’t miss yours. Stay in the will of God and be faithful in all that He has entrusted into your hands. That God appointed assignment will not evade you. In His timing, those that ignored you, neglected you, or simply overlooked you, will see God shine through you!
“But, have you moved yet?” This is something I used to say to my children, as I reiterated my initial directions. Even after the eager “Yes ma’ams” the assigned task would STILL go incomplete. See, I can tell my children to do something and they can say yes, but if they don’t make a move to do it, has their heart really said yes? I had to really think about this. Is that how I treat God and the things of God?
