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Lenten devotions 2008

FEB. 26 - UNCLEAR TO THE HUMAN EYE
by Lisa Guedea Carreño, director of the Harold and Wilma Good Library

SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 16:1-13 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

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DEVOTIONAL:
The story of David’s anointing as new king of Israel centers on seeing clearly and seeing the right things: “the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (v.7). David was handsome, but he was not regal in stature like king Saul. And Jesse didn’t even include him when presenting his sons to Samuel. Only after God chastised Samuel for focusing on the wrong things and rejected Jesse’s other sons was David finally called in from tending sheep. What God sees may be unclear to the human eye; sometimes even a prophet misses it.

What do I do that prevents me from seeing as God sees? Like Samuel grieving over Saul’s pending loss of the kingship, do I spend so much mental energy fretting about unpleasant situations that I can’t see what God wants to reveal to me? Do I try so hard to be self-reliant that I can’t let God lead me through times of uncertainty? In a time of grief and fear, God instructed Samuel step-by-step and often just in time. I like how “The New Interpreter’s Bible” commentary says that “there is a constant dialogue between God and Samuel…God seems almost indulgent with Samuel in saying, ‘I will tell you what to do.’”

Maybe when I am most afraid, most hurt and bewildered, I need to stop trying so hard to work out all of the practicalities and logistics of moving forward and instead listen for God telling me what to do next. Maybe if I open myself up to a “constant dialogue” with God, and if I trust that I will get just- in-time guidance as Samuel did, I’ll be better able to see things clearly, to see the heart as God sees it -- whether it be the heart of another person or the “heart of the matter” in a complex and painful situation.

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SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 16:1-13 (NRSV)
The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.’ Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’ He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
Posted at 11:44 #