Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13

We have come to a great turning point in 1 Samuel. Saul has been rejected as King and God is sending Samuel to anoint a new King (1 Samuel 16:1). King Saul had rejected God’s authority over him and so he was rejected (see 1 Samuel 15:26). This is no surprise. The people had asked for a King who would “rule them like all the nations”. In other words, they wanted to trade God’s rule over them for man’s rule (1 Samuel 8:7-9; 12:13). In all of this, both King Saul and the people were displaying humanity’s sinful tendency to want to live independent from God.

So why have hope that the next King will be better? God will choose the new King on a better basis. God chooses King David based on his heart – a heart that knows God’s grace and wants to do God’s will for the people (1 Samuel 16:7). Ultimately, God raised up our King, Jesus, from the line of David. King Jesus’ heart is to do the will of his Father (John 4:34; Mark 14:35-36). He obeyed to the point of dying on the cross to deliver God’s people from all their enemies: sin, death, and the devil. However, God’s people – those who are saved by faith in Christ – face a daily challenge. Will we submit ourselves to King Jesus whom God has chosen, or will be demand a Jesus of our own design? Will we trust in, and obey, the Son of David, or will we fashion for ourselves a Son of Saul?

Do you ever feel like the Jesus presented in the Bible could be improved upon? Maybe you feel like he asks too much of us? Maybe you have been tempted to think that he holds good things back from us? Maybe you have been tempted to think there are better authorities, better Kings, worth serving than him? Maybe you think he does a bad job protecting you? The fact is that all Christians are tempted in these ways. Go to God in prayer when you are tempted to want to “improve upon” King Jesus. Ask him to give you a clear vision for Jesus’ true goodness. Jesus, the Son of David, is good beyond words and serving him is where we find our deepest rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

– What are ways that Christians might be tempted to “improve upon” King Jesus? How do those “improvements” reflect the cultural values of our times?

– Are you willing to accept that you need God’s help to see Jesus rightly? Ask him to give you greater spiritual vision to appreciate King Jesus’ true glory so that you might more joyfully follow in his ways.