AND THOU SHALT ANOINT ME HIM WHOM I NAME UNTO THEE

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom i name unto thee. 1 Samuel 16:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 41-43

The Amalekites were a wicked set of people. For no just reason, they attacked the Israelites and killed some of them (Exodus 17:8). God was not happy with this, when Saul became king, He instructed him through Samuel to wipe out the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-35). When Saul got there, he and his men destroyed the worthless things and kept the valuable things for themselves. The next morning when Saul met Samuel, he told him that he had destroyed everything as God commanded. Oh really, what is the noise of sheep and goats am hearing, the old man asked. They are the animals we brought to offer sacrifice to God, he responded. The Lord saw that Saul was unserious so He told Samuel to go and anoint his replacement. 1 Samuel 16:3 says And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom i name unto thee.

On reading 1 Samuel 16:3, one may wonder why God did not tell Samuel who he was going to anoint before he left home. Why wait until Samuel got to Jesse’s house before telling him who to anoint? God withheld that information from Samuel to teach him some life lessons. Firstly, God does not see as man sees. Men always look at the outward qualities, the stature, the suit, the degree, but God looks at the heart. Samuel was looking at Eliab’s stature but God was looking at his heart. Secondly, a man’s heart is far more important than his outward appearance. Eliab and Co’s outward appearance was great but their heart was not right with God. The Lord rejected them all and selected a young boy whose heart was right with Him. Thirdly, not all that glitter is gold. Eliab and Co were shining; they looked every part like the perfect candidate but they were rotten inside. This is one lesson all singles must learn. The fact that a sister can sing does not make her an angel and the fact that a brother wears a nice suit does not make him a gentleman.

Fourthly, failure to wait on God results in mistakes. God categorically told Samuel, anoint who i will show you in other words do not anoint until i show you. If Samuel had waited on God to speak before making a move, he would not have made the mistake of trying to anoint Eliab. Fifthly, mistakes are inevitable when you and i choose by the flesh. Samuel chose by the flesh at least twice and got it wrong. Just as Samuel experienced God’s silence, we are going to experience His silence too. He does that, not because He hates us but to teach us life lessons. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, Samuel learnt from his mistakes, have you and i learnt from ours? Mistake is inevitable for anyone who tries to walk ahead of God.

PONDER: In what ways are we moving ahead of God? Let us repent now and wait.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.