Advent Devotions, Week Two, Devo 3

DEVOTION 3
I SAMUEL 16: 1-13

This passage tells of Samuel anointing David, a young overlooked shepherd boy whom God appointed to be the future king of Israel. The first verse of this passage tells us it was Bethlehem where God sent Samuel, His prophet, to call out the next King after Saul. A man known as Jesse of Bethlehem was David’s father as well as the father of David’s older and ‘finer’ brothers. This story gives us the well known verse, “man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” What an encouragement
this story is to all of us, but especially children of all ages! God makes it clear that you are never too young, or insignificant, to be noticed by God. God has a plan for all His children who seek Him with all their hearts, even the youngest ones!

It is also important for the sake of prophecy to note that Mary, Jesus’ birth mother, was a direct descendent of David. This explains why Mary and Joseph, even though they did not live in Bethlehem at the time of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus, traveled to Bethlehem for the royal census when everyone was called to report to their place of origin. Thus, a seven hundred year old scripture, foretelling the Messiah would come from the line of David and be born in Bethlehem, was fulfilled on that first
Christmas Day!
-Marilyn Williams

© Safe Harbor Ministries, Inc.
Marilyn Williams
Ministry of the Word
December 08/09
www.marilynwilliams.com