The Promise of A King

1 Samuel 16:1-13 NIV tells the story of how God had instructed Samuel (the last Judge of Israel) to anoint a new ruler after He became displeased with King Saul (the first King of Israel).   Through arrogance and disobedience, Saul lost favor with God.

Although Samuel mourned for Saul, the Lord instructed him to “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”  1 Samuel 16:1b NIV.

“When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab (one of Jesse’s sons) and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,’” 1 Samuel 16:6-7 NIV.  After meeting and rejecting seven out of the eight sons of Jesse, Samuel asked if there were anymore.  Then Jesse remembered his youngest son, David, who was tending the sheep in the fields.

David was a humble servant to God and he obeyed Samuel’s summons.   Once he arrived, God instructed Samuel to anoint him and declared, ” ‘He is the one.’  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power…”  1 Samuel 16:12b-13 NIV.

There are three Jewels of Wisdom hidden within the story of King David that we single ladies in Christ can still learn from today.  This information is particularly useful while we wait on the Lord for our own appointed king to arrive in our life.

Only the Lord can appoint our future king for us.  To settle or not to settle, that is the question!  Even a righteous man like Samuel assumed who would be king next when he saw Eliab.  However, the Lord rejected him because He does not consider the outward appearance like man, He looks at the heart.  Upon meeting someone that we like, we should first ask the Lord to reveal their true heart to us before we even consider giving them access to our own.  

Those rejected by man are often the first selected by God.  Many biblical scholars speculate that David was not favored by his father or brothers. The scripture certainly leads one to question why Jesse didn’t immediately send for David once he knew Samuel had arrived to anoint one of his sons as king? Why did he wait until Samuel inquired if there were anymore sons left?  Either way, the Lord had selected only one for the anointed position.  In return, He will choose our anointed king as well. My beloved sister, we can either settle on the reject suggested by man or choose the original favored and selected by God.

David was able to answer God’s call on his life because he had a relationship with Him.  I would venture to say his relationship with God grew out of the many lonely hours he endured while tending sheep.  He willingly stepped through the Doors of Faith with the Lord as his trusted guide.

Like any great daddy who loves his daughter dearly, God wants us to have the very best He has to offer, that includes our future husband.   If a man has no true relationship with God, there is a 100% guarantee that he will not have a true relationship with you as his future wife. We must have faith in God, my beloved sister.  Why? He, and only He, is qualified to distinguish a future king among worldly counterfeits.