BYM ONLINE DESK May 2018 English Emagazine | Page 8

May 2018
A Teenager's Story
(1 Samuel 16-18)
Dr. Mrs. Lilian Stanley
Saul had backslidden and God sent Samuel to
Bethlehem to anoint one of the sons of Jesse in his
place. But the stripling was not to be found there.
God's eyes picked him up from the obscurity of the
jungle. What a lesson we have here! We cannot be
away from God's sight. “The eyes of the Lord run to
and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself
strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him”
(2 Chron 16:9). Youth should not worry about their
family background or menial job. God knows where
to reach you (1 Sam 16:1).
Samuel arrived at Bethlehem to consecrate Jesse
and his sons (sans David) and invited them to the
sacrifice. When he saw the tall, smart, warrior, Eliab,
Samuel was all praises for God for His wise choice.
'Surely this is the Lord's anointed,' he thought. God's
answer to Samuel is a lesson to remember forever,
“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I
have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the
things people look at. People look at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (vv 5-
7). The next, Abinadab and down to the seventh all
were rejected.
My little children, it is not the flashy dresses you
wear or your pony tail or your lipstick matching your
dress and the hangings in your ears that attract the
attention of our great God, but your heart. If you go
for an interview, your clothes and make-up speak for
you. Nobody looks at your heart. But for God, it is
your heart that counts. Quit worrying about your
pencil heels and Adidas shoes, start working on your
heart. Train your conscience according to the Bible,
wherever you may be.
David was not thought fit to be invited for the
sacrifice. He was sent to tend the sheep. At the
insistence of Samuel, David was brought and the
Lord told Samuel to anoint him. Never get agitated
when you are ignored. People may push you down,
sideline you or reject you. But God will pull you up
and bring you to where He wants you to be (v11).
“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon
David” (v13). This was the secret of David's
successful life. He leaned heavily on the Holy Spirit.
He was his guide at every turn of life. God has
promised the Holy Spirit to each of us. “Ask and it
will be given to you ... For everyone who asks
receives ... how much more will your Father in
heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
(Lk 11:9-13). He will be your constant companion.
When an evil spirit came upon Saul, a musician
was sought after. Then a servant of Saul said, “I have
seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to
play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He
speaks well and is a fine looking man. And the Lord is
with him” (v18). See how people observe you! Your
family observes you, your neighbours watch you,
your classmates have an eye on you, your teachers
and professors make a mental assessment of you.
That's why Paul admonished the young Timothy,
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are
young, but set an example for the believers in speech,
in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim
4:12). That's what brought the teenager David to the
royal court. Take care of the way you live.
So, whenever the evil spirit disturbed Saul, David
R
O F I N T E G
y o u t h p a g e
In the Bible we read about many teenagers. One
such is David. When we are introduced to him, he is
probably fifteen or sixteen, trying his father's razor.
The historian takes us to the jungle to meet him
shepherding his father's 'few' sheep (1 Sam 17:28).
Looks like he was not from a very well to do family.
*2018*
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