Beautiful Eyes
Often, we watch TV, and Mary will say, "Did you notice his/her eyes?" Look, they are two different colors. They are a deep blue. Her eyes are natural. His eyes are saying something other than what he is actually saying. An individual's eyes can often share more about their character than their actions. Ok, so I'm a bit hung up on the description of a young David in 1 Samuel 16:12. But think about it, a person's eyes tell us a lot about our character. In the CSB and ESV, the young boy is described as one with beautiful eyes. In the Message, the contemporary description is one of "the very picture of health—bright-eyed, good-looking." The King James version paints a picture of David as "of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to." Bottom line David was a young boy chosen and anointed by God "as the one." God saw something that He created in David, which no one else noticed.
In 1 Samuel 16:1-13, we are presented with the remarkable story of how God chose David, a young shepherd, to be the future King of Israel. This passage reveals the nature of God's selection process. Furthermore, it highlights an essential characteristic God desires in those who seek to follow Him wholeheartedly. By examining this narrative, we can gain insights into the qualities that please God and discover how to cultivate a heart that aligns with His desires.
God's selection of David, the least likely candidate by societal standards, underscores His preference for individuals whose hearts are aligned with Him. David's heart was humble, obedient, and passionate for God, qualities that set him apart and made him a man after God's own heart.
Friends, much has been recorded about David and his life. Forty chapters in 1 Samuel through 1 Kings deal with David, and many more in Chronicles and Kings give another look at David's life. These chapters are filled with rich and in-depth narratives about David's life; these recordings include both his weaknesses and strengths. I believe that God has inspired this record because there are many applications we can learn from David's life, both about people and about God.
As we begin a new direction and continue reading in 1 Samuel, our focus will shift to the anointed one, David. David's life teaches us about; humility, obedience, and having a passionate pursuit of God himself in our lives. The future King gives us plenty of lessons to read, learn and apply in our lives…even today! Like David, we must recognize that our external appearances or societal status do not matter to God as much as the condition of our hearts. As we cultivate these qualities, we can align ourselves more closely with God's desires and experience a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him. May we strive to be people after God's heart, faithfully seeking Him in every aspect of our lives.