the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
1 Samuel 16:1-13
The king according to the flesh is put on one side in God’s thoughts, even though his reign goes on for a number of years yet. And another king is introduced of whom Samuel had said, "The LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). This is David, whose name means "well-beloved" – a type of Christ, of Him who is the perfect man according to God’s own heart. Samuel did not recognize him, for, in spite of his experience with Saul, he still looked "at the outward appearance". We are only too prone to judge according to what we see and to allow ourselves to be impressed by outward good qualities (or faults). "God accepteth no man’s person", Galatians 2:6 says again. He looks on the heart! We may be able to deceive ourselves and others by appearing pious, but we can never deceive Him.
Samuel visits Jesse’s family. But it is the young shepherd whom they forgot to invite to the feast who is anointed "in the midst of his brethren" as the king for the LORD. This anointing with oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit) reminds us how the beloved Son of the Father was described at the Jordan by John the Baptist: "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptiseth with the Holy Ghost" (John 1:33 – cf. end of v. 12).
