January 25, 2014

Psalm 27:1-6, 1 Samuel 15:34—16:13, Luke 5:27-32

Today is one of many examples where the Lord chooses someone that people would have looked over as not good enough.

In Samuel, we start the story off finding out that Saul has disobeyed the Lord and is no longer the king (might have to read all of the story in 1 Samuel 15). After a time of mourning the loss of Saul as king, the Lord tells Samuel to go and anoint the new king. He goes to the house of a man named Jesse to anoint one of his sons as king. One look at the oldest son, and Samuel thought they had their man. But the Lord said it wasn't him.


Verse 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.”

After going through seven seemingly eligible men, Samuel still hasn't anointed the king, and wonders if there are any other sons. The youngest one, David, was out tending the sheep. He wasn't even considered by his own family!

Of course, he is the one that is anointed the new King of Israel, and the Spirit of the Lord was powerfully upon him from that day on.

In Luke, we see the tax collector Levi, at work (just like the fishermen from a previous day), and Jesus comes and tells him to be his follower. And, just like the fishermen, he gets up, leaves everything, and follows Jesus.

Later on, Levi invites his tax collector friends over for dinner with Jesus as the guest of honor. This caused some to question Jesus, because tax collectors weren't exactly known for being honest, godly people. Why would he choose to spend time eating with all these sinners?

But Jesus says to them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

God called David, a young shepherd to be the king of Israel. Jesus called Levi, a sinful tax collector to be his disciple. 

Why do you suppose the Lord works with the most unexpected people? How have you seen him equip you or others in unexpected ways?

Prayer:
O God, you prepared your disciples for the coming of the
Spirit through the teaching of your Son Jesus Christ: Make
the hearts and minds of your servants ready to receive the
blessing of the Holy Spirit, that they may be filled with the
strength of his presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.