The Least of These
I’ve read the account of David being anointed by Samuel many times, but a few years ago something dawned on me: perhaps this account was as much a test for Jesse (David’s father) as it was for Samuel or David. I believe it was a test of surrender. Let me explain...
1 Samuel 16 tells us of Saul’s final days as king and the time when a new ruler would be anointed. After inquiring of the Lord, Samuel goes to Jesse’s house looking for God’s chosen one who would assume the throne. As Samuel arrives at Jesse’s, he consecrates the family and calls for Jesse’s sons to come before him. Think about it: a nationally, well-known prophet arrives on the scene to consecrate one of your sons to assume the throne of a nation—can you just imagine the anticipation of the moment?
As the story reveals, one son after another passes before Samuel, in which he continues to hear the Lord say, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one…do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” It’s not a stretch to say that Jesse’s seven sons were likely very attractive and of good stature, seeing the Lord warns not to judge in this manner.
Although each of the sons seem to be a good fit on the outside, Samuel can’t seem to get resolution. So he calls for any other sons, saying: “‘Are these all the children?’ And he (Jesse) said, ‘There remains the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’” 1 Samuel 16:11 (NASB)
Following this command, they fetch David from the fields, for the Father would “not rest until he comes…” He wouldn’t settle for what seemed good on the outside—he wanted the best, what seemed small and insignificant to others. As the story goes, once David walks in—I’m sure somewhat dirty and smelling like sheep—Samuel acknowledges David as the one in whom the Father delights to lead his people.
SHEPHERDS IN THAT CULTURE
Although shepherds were highly necessary in the Jewish culture, tending sheep wasn't the most noble of positions. In fact, most families would often contract the work of shepherding to outsiders. However, if the family couldn’t afford to hire a shepherd, they would give the lowly job to the youngest son. This was David’s situation.
Again, when it came down to choose the one, Jesse brings out his seven sons; those whom he thought would be the most eligible—you know, the tall, dark, and handsome. Although David would later be identified as “ruddy, with beautiful eyes and handsome appearance,” it’s important to note that he wasn’t called in at first but was summoned after the first seven failed to make the cut. I guess you could say that David was the last resort; he was the “least.” (I am in no way saying Jesse was ashamed of David, I’m only stating the obvious in the fact that David wasn’t included in the first round draft).
As the story unfolds, Samuel asks the defining question, “Are these all the children?” I assume that, in the spirit of discernment, Samuel knew the answer to his own inquiry. Furthermore, I can’t help but see that Jesse stood at a crossroad of decision: would he give to the Lord what was the least, youngest, and seemingly the ineligible. Would he surrender to the Lord what seemed illogical?
History hung in the wake of this decision!
GIVING HIM THE “SMALL” AND “LEAST ELIGIBLE”
I tell this angle of the story to say this: the Father desires that we surrender to him what seems small and ineligible. He wants all of us, the things we are proud and the things we aren’t.
He never calls us to half-surrender but to a whole one.
It’s not far-fetched to say that we, as frail human beings, tend to bring what we think is the “best, the brightest, and the most eligible.”
Although the Father loves and delights in the things we have crafted to excellence, he also wants the smaller and seemingly insignificant things; he wants the things we have hidden away in the depths of our hearts. He wants every bit of us!
So, let me ask: What in your life seems small, ineligible, and downright insignificant? What is the seemingly “small” dream that you’ve buried away out of sight, that maybe the Father wants to call forth?
Just as he did with Jesse, I can hear the Father saying to us, “Are these all the children…are there more?”
Will we surrender both the best and the smallest to him?
The Father’s not only looking for the “best” parts of you; he also wants what we would call the small and hidden parts—the places we consider barren, broken, and weak. Who knows, maybe the smallest and the least-significant is the thing that will reflect him the most?
Grace and peace to surrender all!
-RA
