Read: 1 Samuel 16:1–13

King Saul had turned away from the Lord, so the Lord is going to appoint a new king for the people of Israel. God is going to appoint a king who is loyal to him, someone who loves him.

God sends the prophet Samuel to go and anoint this king. Samuel is only told where he has to go, but not who will be the next king. He has to go and make a sacrifice to the Lord and invite Jesse and his sons to this sacrifice.

Samuel does as the Lord tells him, and when Jesse and his sons come before him, Samuel looks at the oldest son and thinks that he certainly looks like someone who could be a king. He thought God must certainly have chosen this son. But God tells Samuel that he doesn’t look at how a person looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. God is going to choose someone who can be a true king.

Now David had done nothing at all that would give God reason to choose him. His dad didn’t even think it was worth having him go to the sacrifice. He was just the youngest son. He wasn’t worthy to become the next king.

And that’s just the point. God chooses people who in themselves are not worthy. And God gave David his Spirit. No, David was not worthy, but the Lord was with him and gave him what he needed to be king. And none of us is worthy to chosen by God either. But God does choose us and makes us his children.

There was Someone else who had no outward beauty, but he was worthy — worthy to be the true King. That’s the Lord Jesus Christ. And he has died on the cross, risen and ascended into heaven as our great King. And as our great King, he makes us, sinful and unworthy people, to be people after God’s heart. He works in each of us to make us love and serve the Lord.

Reflection with your child:

Why did God choose David to be king?

Source: Sermon by Rev. A. Pol