March 2, 2026
1 Samuel 16:1–13
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? 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.”2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 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.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 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 powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
As we keep walking through Lent, it’s worth pausing to notice the quiet, surprising places where God’s love shows up, toward us, toward others, and toward the world around us.
In today’s story, God’s love falls upon someone no one expected: David, the youngest son of Jesse. It appears that he is out doing the job his siblings never wanted, watching sheep. Truth is David is not the obvious choice for anything important, certainly not becoming king. And honestly, if Samuel had been left to his own instincts, he probably would’ve overlooked David completely. Samuel was ready to anoint one of the older, stronger, more “king-looking” brothers. But God interrupts that whole line of thinking with a gentle correction: “You’re looking at the outside. I’m looking at the heart.”
That statement hits close to home. It makes me wonder: how often do I do the same thing? How often do I size people up based on what I see first, their clothes, their job, their age, their abilities, their background? Church communities are full of people who serve beautifully across every kind of difference, race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, and so much more. And yet, we still hear comments like, “They don’t look like a leader,” or “I didn’t expect someone like that to be in charge.”
This passage reminds us that God doesn’t operate that way. God sees worth where others see “ordinary.” God sees calling where others see “unlikely.” God sees a heart ready to serve long before anyone else recognizes it.
So maybe part of our Lenten work this year is to slow down and look again. To look past appearances. To look past assumptions. To look for the heart, because that’s where God is already at work. And when we do, we might just catch glimpses of God’s love breaking through in places we never thought to look.
LET'S PRAY
All-seeing God, forgive us for the times we judge by appearances or make assumptions about who is worthy or capable. Teach us to see people the way you see them, by their hearts, their stories, and their God-given abilities. Would you shape our eyes and our love to match yours. Amen.
