How often we are prone to judge by external forms! We most often weigh things by "looking" at them, qualifying them as good or bad. But our reading today points to the folly of going by outward appearances. God’s choice of David was not by the standards of human thinking as it appeared to Prophet Samuel- God looked beyond the exterior to the heart!

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God saw in David the caliber beyond a young lad who looked after a few sheep of his father- to "a shepherd in the making” who would lead and tend His people well. Psalm 78:70-72 speaks of David thus: “He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”

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In choosing David as the next king of Israel, God saw a few traits in him that would qualify him to be a good king to His people. We understand David’s character through a few instances and the Psalms he wrote:

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His Integrity of heart- David’s integrity is seen in his whole- hearted devotion to God and seeking Him. He was quick to repent when he was convicted of sin (Psalm 32). Besides when there was ample opportunity to do away with Saul, who was hunting him down, with the integrity of heart, ‘He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." (1Sam.24:6)

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His Diligence in work- When Samuel had come to Jesse’s house, David wasn’t home- he was tending the sheep; he was engaged in the task given to him! Psalm 23 talks of the Lord our Shepherd portraying the traits of a good shepherd-taking the sheep to green pastures, resting them, guarding and guiding them!

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His Courage in facing life situations-When Goliath the giant Philistine was threatening the people of God(1Sam.17), David had the courage to stand up to him despite his age or the fact that he wasn’t skilled in warfare. He was sure of one thing- the LORD’s Presence with him to fight his battles! He faced the giant “in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,” (1Sam.17:45). His courage lay in his trust in GOD!

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We can learn from David’s life why God chose Him and called him "a man after my own heart" (Acts 13:22). May we be found with the integrity of heart, the diligence in the tasks assigned to us and the courage to face life’s situations, putting our firm trust in God!

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To those who have given so much importance to the external appearance rather than the interior condition of your heart, would you realize that God gives importance to what’s in the heart of a person? The “hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:4) is what matters. Would you allow all the stain of sin and wicked thoughts in your heart to be cleansed of all the unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9)?  Only He can give you a brand new heart that can cultivate the above mentioned qualities.

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Thought for the Day:

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the LORD weighs the hearts.”

Proverbs 21:2

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Listen - ‘Create in me’