1 00:00:02,710 --> 00:00:13,100 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: a calming, scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:22,860 --> 00:00:26,730 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,250 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture. 1 Samuel 16 Tonight's scripture 6 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:47,500 Speaker 1: reflection is written by Clarence Haynes and read by Leah Gerard. 7 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:56,910 Speaker 1: 1 Samuel chapter 16 The Lord said to Samuel, How 8 00:00:57,020 --> 00:01:00,550 Speaker 1: long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected 9 00:01:00,610 --> 00:01:04,030 Speaker 1: him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil 10 00:01:04,610 --> 00:01:07,830 Speaker 1: and be on your way. I am sending you to 11 00:01:07,910 --> 00:01:12,550 Speaker 1: Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons 12 00:01:13,069 --> 00:01:17,990 Speaker 1: to be king. But Samuel said, How can I go 13 00:01:18,230 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: if Saul hears about it? He will kill me. The 14 00:01:22,670 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: Lord said, Take a heifer with you and say, I 15 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,199 Speaker 1: have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to 16 00:01:30,220 --> 00:01:33,220 Speaker 1: the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. 17 00:01:34,390 --> 00:01:38,170 Speaker 1: You are to anoint for me the one I indicate. 18 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, 19 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: the elders of the town trembled when they met him. 20 00:01:48,540 --> 00:01:53,590 Speaker 1: They asked, Do you come in peace? Samuel replied, Yes, 21 00:01:54,290 --> 00:01:57,650 Speaker 1: in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. 22 00:01:58,470 --> 00:02:03,670 Speaker 1: Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me. Then 23 00:02:03,730 --> 00:02:07,340 Speaker 1: he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to 24 00:02:07,380 --> 00:02:13,590 Speaker 1: the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, 25 00:02:14,530 --> 00:02:19,850 Speaker 1: Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord. But 26 00:02:19,889 --> 00:02:23,670 Speaker 1: the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance 27 00:02:23,889 --> 00:02:27,500 Speaker 1: or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord 28 00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:31,740 Speaker 1: does not look at the things people look at. People 29 00:02:31,780 --> 00:02:36,260 Speaker 1: look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 30 00:02:38,540 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front 31 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,970 Speaker 1: of Samuel. But Samuel said, The Lord has not chosen 32 00:02:47,010 --> 00:02:52,410 Speaker 1: this one either. Jesse then had Shammah pass by. But 33 00:02:52,450 --> 00:02:58,270 Speaker 1: Samuel said, Nor has the Lord chosen this one. Jesse 34 00:02:58,370 --> 00:03:02,810 Speaker 1: had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel 35 00:03:02,850 --> 00:03:07,810 Speaker 1: said to him, The Lord has not chosen these. So 36 00:03:07,850 --> 00:03:11,490 Speaker 1: he asked Jesse, Are these all the sons you have? 37 00:03:13,010 --> 00:03:17,030 Speaker 1: There is still the youngest, Jesse answered. He is tending 38 00:03:17,060 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: the sheep. Samuel said, Send for him. We will not 39 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: sit down until he arrives. So he sent for him 40 00:03:27,180 --> 00:03:30,140 Speaker 1: and had him brought in. He was glowing with health 41 00:03:30,620 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the 42 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,910 Speaker 1: Lord said, Rise and anoint him, this is the one. 43 00:03:40,490 --> 00:03:44,250 Speaker 1: So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him 44 00:03:44,290 --> 00:03:46,710 Speaker 1: in the presence of his brothers, and from that day 45 00:03:46,890 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. 46 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,100 Speaker 1: Samuel then went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the 47 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from 48 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:05,670 Speaker 1: the Lord tormented him. Saul's attendants said to him, See, 49 00:04:05,770 --> 00:04:09,690 Speaker 1: an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our 50 00:04:09,730 --> 00:04:12,590 Speaker 1: Lord command his servants here to search for someone who 51 00:04:12,650 --> 00:04:16,050 Speaker 1: can play the lyre. He will play when the evil 52 00:04:16,089 --> 00:04:19,050 Speaker 1: spirit from God comes on you, and you'll feel better. 53 00:04:20,589 --> 00:04:23,970 Speaker 1: So Saul said to his attendants, Find someone who plays 54 00:04:24,029 --> 00:04:28,140 Speaker 1: well and bring him to me. One of the servants answered, 55 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,460 Speaker 1: I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who 56 00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:34,190 Speaker 1: knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave 57 00:04:34,270 --> 00:04:37,190 Speaker 1: man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a 58 00:04:37,270 --> 00:04:42,349 Speaker 1: fine-looking man, and the Lord is with him. Then Saul 59 00:04:42,410 --> 00:04:46,130 Speaker 1: sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send me your son David, 60 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:49,910 Speaker 1: who is with the sheep. So Jesse took a donkey 61 00:04:50,230 --> 00:04:53,250 Speaker 1: loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, 62 00:04:53,730 --> 00:04:58,610 Speaker 1: and sent them with his son David to Saul. David 63 00:04:58,650 --> 00:05:01,740 Speaker 1: came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him 64 00:05:01,980 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: very much. and David became one of his armor-bearers. Then 65 00:05:06,750 --> 00:05:10,589 Speaker 1: Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, Allow David to remain 66 00:05:10,650 --> 00:05:14,469 Speaker 1: in my service, for I am pleased with him. Whenever 67 00:05:14,510 --> 00:05:17,610 Speaker 1: the Spirit from God came on Saul, David would take 68 00:05:17,670 --> 00:05:21,510 Speaker 1: up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul. 69 00:05:22,170 --> 00:05:25,370 Speaker 1: He would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. 70 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,700 Speaker 1: If you're like many people, You have hopes, dreams, and 71 00:05:34,740 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: desires living inside of you. These are things you would 72 00:05:39,170 --> 00:05:43,170 Speaker 1: love to see happen in your life. Yet as life progresses, 73 00:05:44,029 --> 00:05:47,010 Speaker 1: it may seem as if the things you desire may 74 00:05:47,050 --> 00:05:51,150 Speaker 1: never come to pass. Whether or not it does is 75 00:05:51,210 --> 00:05:56,789 Speaker 1: God's decision. But this chapter reminds us of the way 76 00:05:57,089 --> 00:06:02,670 Speaker 1: God can change things in an instant. Before David was 77 00:06:02,710 --> 00:06:06,330 Speaker 1: anointed to be king, he was not spending his time 78 00:06:06,890 --> 00:06:12,679 Speaker 1: hoping for the opportunity to lead the nation of Israel. Instead, 79 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: he was in the field, faithfully tending his sheep. He 80 00:06:17,540 --> 00:06:22,100 Speaker 1: was being faithful in the dark. Yet it was from 81 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: this place of obscurity that God anointed him to be king. Remember, 82 00:06:29,380 --> 00:06:33,380 Speaker 1: Jesse didn't even bother to get David when Samuel showed up. 83 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:40,250 Speaker 1: So even his own father did not see what God saw. However, 84 00:06:41,170 --> 00:06:44,730 Speaker 1: God did not see just a young man who was 85 00:06:44,810 --> 00:06:48,630 Speaker 1: tending the sheep. He saw a young man who had 86 00:06:48,670 --> 00:06:51,589 Speaker 1: a heart that would run after him, and that is 87 00:06:51,650 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: what God was after. Not too long after being anointed, 88 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,580 Speaker 1: David ended up serving in the king's palace. Again, this 89 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: was not his own doing, but God's hand at work. 90 00:07:05,900 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: So what is the reflection in all of this? First, 91 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,450 Speaker 1: what are you doing outside the spotlight? So much of 92 00:07:15,530 --> 00:07:19,950 Speaker 1: our lives unfold away from the public eye, yet those 93 00:07:20,590 --> 00:07:25,690 Speaker 1: private moments often determine where God leads you and how 94 00:07:25,770 --> 00:07:31,870 Speaker 1: God uses you. Simply put, do your best when no 95 00:07:32,070 --> 00:07:38,810 Speaker 1: one sees, because that shows your integrity and character. And 96 00:07:38,870 --> 00:07:44,130 Speaker 1: those are qualities God desires in His people. The second 97 00:07:44,170 --> 00:07:48,570 Speaker 1: thing to remember is, you don't have to fuss and 98 00:07:48,710 --> 00:07:51,150 Speaker 1: fight to get to the places God wants you to 99 00:07:51,190 --> 00:07:55,850 Speaker 1: be in. He has an amazing way of opening and 100 00:07:56,010 --> 00:08:00,350 Speaker 1: closing the right doors at the right time. You don't 101 00:08:00,370 --> 00:08:04,270 Speaker 1: have to worry about how you will get there. Your 102 00:08:04,430 --> 00:08:09,310 Speaker 1: primary focus should be on drawing close to God and 103 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: following His heart. When you do that, He'll make sure 104 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:18,780 Speaker 1: you arrive exactly where He wants you to be. I 105 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: promise you, it will happen right on time. Lord, I 106 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,990 Speaker 1: bring all my desires, my longings, my hopes, and my 107 00:08:32,050 --> 00:08:36,150 Speaker 1: dreams before you. Sometimes it feels like these things are 108 00:08:36,190 --> 00:08:42,030 Speaker 1: taking too long and they'll never happen. In these moments, 109 00:08:43,179 --> 00:08:45,620 Speaker 1: help me not to fight against your timing to make 110 00:08:45,740 --> 00:08:50,900 Speaker 1: them happen, but help me draw closer to you. As 111 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,870 Speaker 1: I bring my heart before you, help me to not 112 00:08:53,950 --> 00:08:58,270 Speaker 1: be anxious, but to accept that the season of preparation 113 00:08:58,330 --> 00:09:01,700 Speaker 1: that I'm in so that when you move, I am 114 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: ready to stand in the places you have me positioned. 115 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: Let me focus on doing my best when you are 116 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: my only audience so that I will always please you 117 00:09:16,420 --> 00:09:21,579 Speaker 1: when no one is watching. I surrender my heart to 118 00:09:22,309 --> 00:09:25,990 Speaker 1: and my future to you, knowing that you care and 119 00:09:26,030 --> 00:09:31,100 Speaker 1: will always do what is for my good, and that 120 00:09:31,140 --> 00:09:34,860 Speaker 1: you will always do it when the timing is right. 121 00:09:36,580 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: Thank you for caring about my heart and for knowing 122 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: I can trust you with it. Today, I recommit the 123 00:09:44,860 --> 00:09:49,350 Speaker 1: plans for my life back into your hands. I pray 124 00:09:49,590 --> 00:09:57,690 Speaker 1: all this in Jesus' name. Amen. How did tonight's scripture 125 00:09:57,790 --> 00:10:02,020 Speaker 1: speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly 126 00:10:02,059 --> 00:10:04,060 Speaker 1: Scripture Forum discussion. 127 00:10:12,809 --> 00:10:17,370 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 128 00:10:17,390 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 2: is was read from the New International Version by Biblica. 129 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:27,870 Speaker 2: All rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, 130 00:10:28,330 --> 00:10:33,350 Speaker 2: Your Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. By following 131 00:10:33,530 --> 00:10:38,130 Speaker 2: Your Daily Bible Verse and Your Nightly Scripture, you can 132 00:10:38,150 --> 00:10:42,510 Speaker 2: be sure that your day begins and ends centered on 133 00:10:42,550 --> 00:10:43,290 Speaker 2: the Word of God. 134 00:10:55,929 --> 00:10:58,140 Speaker 1: Thank you.