Date: Wednesday, 5th February, 2025
Text: 1 Samuel 8:4-22
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
You can’t know the right spouse to marry by mere looking. Marriage is God’s idea and institution, so he alone knows the depths. Some say, ‘shine your eyes and choose whoever you want’. They forget that sight can be deceitful. Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Outward appearances can be misleading. Today, many have missed it in life and in marriage because they trusted their senses more than God.
The Israelites wanted to choose a physically impressive king. So they got Saul, tall and handsome young man. He was a head taller than all Israel and was from a rich family. By their own worldly standards, he had all the physical features of a king. But did they meet up with God’s standards? No!
The elders of Israel missed out on the most important criterion for the right kingship- a godly heart. Saul’s heart was not right with God. He failed woefully as king. The Spirit of God departed from him after two years of his reign due to disobedience- I Samuel 15. Insanity marked the remaining 38 years of his reign; he eventually committed suicide in a battle where Israel suffered terrible defeat in the hands of her enemy, the Philistines.
When God was ready to choose his own king, his criteria was different. He didn’t go to the house of the rich and influential, rather he sent Samuel, the prophet and Kingmaker to Bethlehem, in the house of an unpopular and poor family of Jesse.
Even in the house of Jesse, among the 8 sons God did not choose the physically impressive military personnel among them. Concerning each of the first seven sons presented for kingship by Jesse, their father, the word of God says, “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 people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
David, a shepherd boy, the youngest and eight son of Jesse was God’s choice. He was described as a man after God’s own heart. Concerning him the Lord said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:23b.
He was a man that loved the Lord and had absolute faith in Him. He never went to battle without consulting the Lord. He never relied on his own abilities. He had a grateful heart. Even when he sinned he owned up and never tried to cover it up. He had a soft repentant heart. David had an uncommon passion for God. Even when God disqualified him from building the temple, he insisted on sponsoring the project.
He was truly a man that loved the Lord with all his heart, no wonder God chose him.
Prayer Nugget: Father, by your grace I will never walk by sight anymore but by your word and Spirit in Jesus Name
Bible In One Year: Leviticus 24-25