1 Samuel 16:6

1 Samuel 16:6 says, And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.  When  Samuel was looking at the sons of Jesse to find and anoint the new king, when he saw Eliah he said that surely he was God's anointed.  He was looking at physical attributes, but that is not the way that God calls His leaeders.  Verse seven adds, But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  God told Samuel that he was not to look on physical attributes, because God had refused Eliah.  Saul had looked very much like we would think it king should look, but he turned out to be all wrong, because he would not follow God.  We may see people today who look very much like we think a preacher should look, and yet they will be all wrong because they aren't called byGod.  God told Samuel that He looked on the heart and not physical attributes, and He still does today.  Verse eight states, Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.  Jesse began to call his other sons, calling Abinadab next.  Samuel said that God also rejected him, or this as the KJV says.  Verse nine adds, Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.  Next, Jesse had Shammah pass before Samuel, and Samuel gave the same response.   We have to assume that after Eliah that Samuel began to rely on God to direct him to the correct son of Jesse instead of relying on their physical appearance, and God was still telling them that he had seen the right one yet.  We can never grow impatient in selecting the right person for a role of leadership in the church today, but must wait for God to lead us to the right person.  Verse ten continues, Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.  Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said that God had not chosen any of them.  Since God had told Samuel that he was going to select His king from Jesse's house, I believe they both may have been getting frustrated by this time, and his sons may have been disappointed.   Still, we must never become frustrated as we wait on God to reveal His will in any situation.   Verse eleven says, And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.  Samuel asked Jesse if these were all his children, and he said the youngest remained keeping the sheep.   He evidently was left to work while the others were at the feast.  He was the youngest, serving as a lowly shepherd.  From the standpoint of the Jews, he would have been very far down from the inheritance aspect, so was easily overlooked.  Those that God calls to serve in the church today, especially as leaders in the church, might be easily overlooked because of their physical looks or worldly qualifications.   Jesus Himself would not even be considered by many larger churches today to be their pastor, because His resume would never even get Him consideration.  Samuel told Jesse to send for this last son, and said they would do nothing else until he was there.  Verse twelve continues, And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.  When Jesse's youngest son came before Samuel, we are told that he was of beautiful  countenance, and God told Samuel to arise and anoint him, because he was the one God had chosen.  Still, he was not chosen because of his looks, but because of his heart for God, as should our leaders in the church be chosen today.  Yet, I believe that we too often look at worldly qualifications.  Verse thirteen concludes, Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.  Samuel anointed David to be the new king in the midst of his brothers, and then he returned to Ramah. We are told that the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.  He had been anointed as the king of Israel, but there was no immediate transfer of power.  God has called each of us to a place of service in the church today, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and once we have, the Holy Spirit indwells us from that day forward.  We like David may not immediately fill the position that we are called to, but we need to place our life in God's hands as He prepares us to serve in our called position.