David Is Anointed King

August 9 - 15

David Is Anointed King

August 9 – 15 Family Devotions
Part 1

This comes from Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s book Children of God Storybook Bible

Week of August 9 – 15

Theme: DAVID IS ANOINTED KING (1 Samuel 16)

Read:

When Samuel grew up, he became Israel’s priest. God said to him, “Go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

Jesse brought all of his sons before Samuel—all except one. He told David, the youngest, to stay in the field to watch over the sheep. He knew that David was too little to be chosen.

David’s eldest brother stepped forward first. He was tall and handsome. “Surely this is the one?” Samuel asked God.

“I do not judge like people judge,” God said. “I look into the heart, not at the face.”

Jesse brought seven sons before Samuel, but none was the one God had chosen.

“Do you have any other sons?” Samuel asked. “Only the youngest, David,” replied Jesse. “Send for him,” Samuel said.

When David came, Samuel saw in his bright eyes that he had a good heart.

“This is the one,” God said.

Samuel took olive oil and poured it on David’s head as a sign that he would grow up to be king of Israel. From that day, David was filled with the Spirit of God.

Looks aren’t everything. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.
—1 Samuel 16.7

Discussion

Why do you think God cares more about what’s in our hearts than how we look on the outside?

How many times a day do you look in a mirror?

How do we check the condition of our hearts?

Family Project

Pray: God, help me to have a good heart—one that loves you and loves others. Amen.