The Trusting Heart

THE TRUSTING HEART

The webster’s dictionary describes trust as “confidence in a person or thing because of the qualities one perceives or seems to perceive in him or it.”

This ability to trust someone is not born overnight. It is an entity that develops in the bosom of a relationship. Sometimes you can trust a person with one thing but not another. You can trust them in one circumstance but not another. But God is calling us to trust him in every aspect of our lives, in all circumstances. To understand this aspect of trust the Lord as lead me to explore the life of David “a man after God’s own heart”

The first mention of David comes in 1 Samuel 16: 1-13: It was very auspicious occasion where God asked Samuel to go and anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king.

4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.

(The arrival of Samuel to a village or town was a significant event. He could not sneak into town unannounced. This was an event that brought the attention of everyone. Samuel was a man of great standing and commanded the respect of the whole nation, for him to come to your town was an occasion of note.)

And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made ||Shammah to pass by. And he said, neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

(Samuel asked Jesse to introduce his sons to him. Jesse brought seven of his sons. But he did not bring the eighth. When a child is ignored on such a grand occasion it is because he is considered of little significance. Bring all your sons Samuel said but Jesse brings all but one. Fortunately, God was watching. God is always watching for our good. Though men would try to rob us of what is good for us God will establish it. At first Samuel fell into the flaw of human thinking, he looked on Eliab and said, this is God’s anointed. He reminded him of Saul, Tall and robust, but God said, it is not him. God said to him, you are using human criteria to choose my man, I do not use such criteria, I look not on the outward appearance, I look on the heart.

Samuel did not make another mistake. Each one that passed before him, “not this one” and again “Not this one.” Until all had passed.

It can become frustrating when it seems that things are not working out. All seven sons had passed before Samuel, yet none of them were the person God wanted. God does not settle. He gets what He wants!! We too must be a people who do not settle.

Samuel had asked Jesse to bring his children and he brought seven. Samuel could have concluded that there were no more. But God had told Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse. Yet it seemed as if all the sons had passed and God had not chosen one. To trust God, we must know his promises and we must know his character. He always fulfills his promises. Samuel knew this so he asked the question: in verse 11 of chapter 16 of 1 Samuel

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And here comes the answer:

….there remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.