Jesse brings his sons to be anointed, and Samuel keeps expecting it to be one of the obvious choices - the tall ones, the strong ones, the impressive ones. But God keeps saying no. Finally, Jesse admits he has another son, the youngest, out tending sheep. David comes in from the field, and God says: this is the one.
This verse has been used to make a point about judging others, but I think the deeper point is about self-knowledge. We're all wrong about what makes someone valuable or capable. We look at resumes, at what's visible, at what impresses. God looks at what you'll actually do with your life, how you'll respond to pressure, what you're made of underneath.
I was in a hiring meeting once where we were interviewing for a leadership position. One candidate had all the credentials - prestigious degree, impressive resume, polished presentation. Another had less obvious qualifications but spoke with conviction and asked sharp questions. My instinct was the first one. But I kept thinking about David. The obvious choice isn't always God's choice. David turned out to be a king. The other guy would have been a disaster in that role. We hired the second candidate, and he's been invaluable. I've learned to distrust my surface-level impressions of people.
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