"So the last will be first, and the first will be last”- Mathew 20:16 (NIV).
When God had rejected Saul as King, Samuel was given the task to look for his successor. As the story goes Samuel knew of a certain family with strong boys. Samuel invited Jesse who gathered and presented him his muscled boys, for a pick.
In most cultures, the eldest always have the first choice. Years back when the patriarch Joseph took his sons to his father Jacob for blessings, he wanted Manasseh, the eldest to be blessed before Ephraim, who was younger. Jacob had waved him off. He “refused and said.. truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations” (Genesis 48: 19).
In this case too, starting with Eliab, on to Abinadab, then Shammah, Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, only to fail to make the cut. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these” (1 Samuel 16:10). Jesse looked around. It is then as an afterthought, David came into the picture. “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep” (vv 11). Once David arrived on the scene, there was no guessing. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one” (vv 12).
In life one may sit at the bottom, a bit late for the party. One may be at the end of the list, all the names, with surpassing distinctions read, and yours is not mentioned. One may get to the fuel depot of life late, all the cars ahead filled, and one wonders if he will too be called up for fuel. The years may be rolling and one might be still at the bottom, seemingly forgotten, wandering about in nameless tasks. There are many such situations when one feels he is completely out of the picture, all apparent chances to strike and make a hit gone.
The Lord has a way in which He can bring a smile to the seemingly forgotten, turn the tables around to those who thought one was forgotten. As David, who knew a lot about of what it means being at the bottom wrote, in Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where sometimes I feel it is getting late to realize certain dreams yet here you show through scriptures there is never too late or forgotten with you, as you can reveal yourself and anoint one even when least expected, and so I pray for unwavering trust in you through all situations, in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
