TODAY’S MAN is the prophet Samuel, simply because he obeyed God and didn’t go his own way.
When he first arrived at Jesse’s house to anoint the new king, he naturally gravitated toward the young man who appeared the most king-like. He was searching for someone who looked handsome and impressive-looking like Saul…
When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed!”
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 outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16: 6-7
Appearance doesn’t reveal what people are really like or what their true value is. Right then and there Samuel could have decided that this fine-looking son of Jesse is the one whom he shall anoint king… you know, the type of person who is always right; full of pride and refusing to admit he is wrong. But the key to being TODAY’S man is humbling yourself before God; admitting your mistake and starting fresh – looking beyond your own capabilities, and doing things on God’s terms, not yours.
Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the LORD has chosen.”
Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen.”
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.” 1 Samuel 8-10
We are going to stop here today, but let me first “set the stage” for TOMORROW’S MAN. I’ve written this same thing in Volume Two of my memoir, so what a confirmation this was to me!
The Bible doesn’t go into much detail about David’s family, but it does tell us that when the prophet Samuel came to Jesse’s house to anoint the new king, everyone was there except David. The Bible says he was “… out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
Now, I would think it would be a very big deal when the infamous Man of God comes to your house! Because David wasn’t present for this important event, gives me the impression that his family didn’t pay much attention to him. Perhaps they even thought of him as insignificant. David was the greatest harp player in Israel, but his family didn’t know that! From what we see in the Bible suggests that his family really wasn’t interested in what or how David was doing. Maybe you’re in that same position today. Maybe your family treats you as a piece of insignificance? Nobody seems interested in you or what you’re doing. Treatment like that may make you feel unwanted. But take heart beloved, and watch how the story ends…