Small but not Insignificant

Small but not Insignificant

(1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Genuine”

Series Title:  “Giant Slayer:  A Man After GOD’s Own Heart”

April 3^rd, 2024

Something to think about:

It's been said that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and how true that is.  How many of us have inadvertently stuck our foot in our mouth, or been embarrassed by looking at someone and making a judgment about them without even knowing who they are?  Does the outward appearance match the inward character?  We never know until we get to know the person.

As we begin a new series today, entitled “Giant Slayer:  A Man After GOD’s Own Heart,” we learn that outward appearances aren’t always what they seem.  In 1 Samuel 16, we come upon a scene in the Old Testament that bears this out in a very profound way.  A man by the name of Saul – who was the first king of Israel – has been rejected by GOD, but remains in power.  GOD instructs His prophet Samuel to go and anoint another king for Israel, so he goes off toward Bethlehem to find a man by the name of Jesse.  When he arrives the elders and leaders of Bethlehem are frightened by his appearance for they know that when GOD sends a prophet it’s not always good news.  However, Samuel puts their minds at ease and calls for Jesse and his family to come and be a part of the evening sacrifice for the town.  When they arrive, Samuel (and the people) are taught an important lesson about judging a person by their outward appearance.  Let’s take a closer look this morning:

1 Samuel 16:1-17 (NLT),

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul.  I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem.  Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”

² But Samuel asked, “How can I do that?  If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

“Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.  ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.”

⁴ So Samuel did as the Lord instructed.  When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him.  “What’s wrong?” they asked.  “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ “Yes,” Samuel replied.  “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.  Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.”  Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”

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 outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

⁸ 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.”  ⁹ Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.”  ¹⁰ 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.”  ¹¹ Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied.  “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”

“Send for him at once,” Samuel said.  “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

¹² So Jesse sent for him.  He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil.  And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.  Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

Here’s the point…

Key Point:  “GOD looks on the heart and not the outward appearance.”

Let’s look at the contrast between the way the world looks at people and situations and how GOD looks at people and situations:

• The  judges by  apperance.

1 Samuel 16:6-7b (NLT),  ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”

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. …”

•  looks on the  .

1 Samuel 16:7c (NLT),  “… People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Something to take home:

As mentioned before, GOD’s Kingdom looks upside down to the rest of the world, but rather than upside down, His Kingdom is truly right side up.  Surrendering your life to faith in Christ is the only way to be able to see the way that GOD sees.  Then and only then will we even begin to scratch the surface of what it means to have the mind of Christ.  Then and only then will we even begin to understand what it means that we love because He first loved us.  Then and only then will we be able to comprehend what it means to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to forgive others as we have been forgiven by GOD through Christ.  If we could only grasp even a small glimpse of what it means that GOD looks on the heart and not the outward appearance of a person, then and only then will we be able to love the way that GOD loves and see what GOD truly sees.

Key Point:  “GOD looks on the heart and not the outward appearance.”