Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen Pt 2: David - Approved by God

“Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.” So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And 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.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.” (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

There is an unseen weapon directed at us at all times. It comes in different forms and in different levels of intensity, nevertheless it is ever before us. That weapon is called COMPARISON. To compare means to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences. The hidden danger of comparison is the result of the examination itself, as an examination requires a “score” and scoring falls into one of two categories: Either the subject has been APPROVED or the subject has been DISAPPROVED. But who determines the score? And by what measurement is that score based on?

We don’t usually consider these questions when the subjects being compared are insignificant. I mean, most people do not have an issue when you are comparing objects such as apples and pears or brushes and combs. Everyone has their own opinion on which they think is better based on their preferences, but most people are not hurt or offended when someone prefers apples over pears or uses a comb instead of a brush. It is only when the examination focuses on an individual does comparison become a weapon. I call it a weapon because it is so destructive. As people, we are tempted to compare ourselves, our lives, our ideas, our abilities, and our realms of influence to those of other people.  Most people don’t even realize that they actively compare themselves to others on a regular basis. But it is ever before us, calling for us to come and play with it. 

All it takes is just a glimpse…

“…and the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”  And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.” And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased],…” (Genesis 3:1-7)

That tree had been in the middle of the garden all of Eve’s life. Think about it! And it had born fruit several times. But it wasn’t until Satan tempted her with the weapon of COMPARISON that she began to feel like she wasn’t good enough or that something was lacking in her. She was complete in herself, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

What else could one desire?

But the moment Satan compared her to God (the very thing which led to Satan’s own downfall, btw), she no longer felt complete. She had been measured against God, and was found lacking (as we all are). What she did not understand is that no one else can be like God but God Himself. That does not mean that we, as humans, are deficient. After God created Adam and Eve, He saw that it was GOOD. He didn’t say “Well, I really messed up on those two. I should remake them.” No! The scriptures tell us that on the sixth day of creation “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

God never willed for us to compare ourselves with one another. It was our adversary, the devil, who tempted Eve, and it is what he still does to people today. But the temptation to compare ourselves to others is not just a tool used by our adversary. People are capable all on their own of saying, thinking, and doing awful things to one another (Genesis 6:5 and 1 John 2:16)

We are tempted on a regular basis to compare God’s workmanship against another using very flawed standards. When we play the game of comparison, we have set the standard based on flawed ideas and beliefs, by which we set about measuring every person, every thing, and every experience.

It kind of reminds me of the measuring tape used by the fictional movie character Mary Poppins. She would measure a person by this “magical” measuring tape and it would describe that person’s character. Note this though, only hers was the PERFECT measure that said “Mary Poppins, Practically Perfect In Every Way.” (You could preach a sermon on that!) But how many people have this same standard of measurement? How many of us walk around comparing ourselves and our lives either positively or negatively to those around us? It happens more than you think!

The bible is full of stories where people were measured by others and were found lacking by them. The weapon of COMPARISON has no partiality. It is equally used against everyone.

We read earlier about how the prophet Samuel was directed by God to anoint a new king of Israel. (It’s a long story……I recommend reading 1 Samuel 15 to see why). God had already chosen His king, but He called Samuel to anoint him. So Samuel set off to the household of Jesse. And to his great delight Jesse had several capable-looking sons. As a matter of fact, SAMUEL CHOSE the most “kingly-looking” son named Eliab, and says to God excitedly “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” (1 Samuel 16:6)

But the LORD corrected Samuel!

“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Samuel came into the situation with his own measuring tape, ready to determine who was worthy to be king of Israel, and God quickly reminded Samuel of Whose measuring tape mattered most.

God had purposed and created David, the youngest and most unique son of Jesse, to be the next king of Israel. The LORD had plans for him and had called and chosen him for a specific purpose.

And look at what confidence David had in the LORD!

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:13-18)

Notice that David wasn’t comparing himself to another of God’s workmanship. He just basked in the love and care he received from the LORD. David KNEW WHO HE WAS and WHOSE HE WAS!

And really, that is where David defeated the weapon of Comparison. Often he had been measured by men and judged as deficient. First by his own family, then by Samuel, later on by King Saul, by his wife, and even by his offspring. But David knew who he was and who he belonged to. When we know WHO WE ARE in God, then there is no basis for comparison. God made each and every one of us uniquely, beautifully, and wonderfully.

God has a purpose for all of us. And often our callings will differ, and inevitably the manifestation of those callings will differ. But we are not to look at one another and covet what the other has, or judge another for what we think they should have, but don’t.

I am Kelly. God created me to be Kelly. He created my looks, my personality, my gifts and talents, and my very being. He did the same for you. I urge you to resist the temptation to compare yourself and others based on YOUR PERCEPTION. Because God views things and people differently than we do. We may not see the potential and the abilities in our selves or in another person that God sees. Or we may see things people have or do and be tempted to feel like we have been over-looked by God.

But know this:

God sees you! He knows you! He created you! And rest assured, He has plans for you!

Do you want to know how I know that?

Ephesians 1:3-5 says

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…”

There. It’s settled.

When God Himself has called and chosen you, it’s settled! You don’t have to run it by anyone else. All insecurities and doubts are unfounded. Because God created you with a specific purpose and He has provided for you all that is needed to fulfill that purpose. Hands down, settled!

And yes, He didn’t create you to be like anyone else. Your calling won’t be exactly like anyone else’s calling. You are unique! And you have been given a unique realm of influence. And your skill set is unique to you and you alone. There is no need for you to compare yourself to anyone else!

If for any reason you feel lacking, I urge you to take your concerns to the LORD. Pray. Seek His face. He will answer you. And if you truly require change, He will be the One to bring about that change. Not because you are lacking in comparison to anyone else, but because He knows that there are attitudes, hurts, hang-ups, and wounds in you that damage and hinder you.

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” (Romans 12:1-2)

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor those who participate in homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].” (Corinthians 6:9-11)

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].” (Philippians 1:6)

So rejoice in the LORD! Give Him thanks for creating you, calling you, and choosing you! Praise Him for all that He is, because He is good and He is worthy of our praises!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1) 

Thank you JESUS!