When Jesse heard that the prophet Samuel was coming to sacrifice to the Lord with him and his sons, he likely had them clean up and dress in their best. After all, it was a special occasion.
But what Jesse didn’t know was that Samuel had a secret mission—to anoint the future king of Israel. When Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son, he assumed he must be the one. Eliab must have looked strong, capable, maybe even like a warrior. But as each of Jesse’s seven sons stood before him, Samuel grew confused. God didn’t choose any of them.
Finally, Jesse sent for his youngest son, David—the one left behind to tend the sheep. He probably arrived dirty, smelling like the fields. And yet, this was the one. Samuel anointed David as the future king of Israel.
God saw something in David that other people didn’t. “God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7. Only God knows the true motives of the heart.
Kind Words Attract People in Power
“Love a pure heart and kind words, and the king will be your friend.” — Proverbs 22:11
A person with a pure heart is sincere, full of integrity, and free of selfish motives. Kind words aren’t just about being polite—they come from a place of wisdom and respect. When I compliment someone, I do it sincerely, not because I expect anything in return.
I’ll admit, I always get nervous before my work evaluations. Even when I know I’m doing my best, I worry it won’t be enough.
Recently, I had my midyear evaluation. To my relief, it was all positive! In fact, I even received some excellent scores. That encouraged me to keep going.
But what if my scores had been just average? I might have questioned whether I should even continue in my role. Maybe I would have thought, Why am I doing this? Maybe I should try something else.
Character matters—to God and to people in positions of power. David went from being the least important member of his family to ruling a nation. Along the way, he needed people who spoke truthfully and kindly—people he could trust.
The words we speak have power. They can build up or tear down, inspire or discourage.
Your Heart
Can people see your heart? How have your words influenced others? And how have the words of others shaped you?
For more on kind words Inspiration Like Honey click here, or check out Quick Wits or Wise Words here. For more on the life of King David read Friendship Can’t Get Any Better Than This here.
Sources & References:
“Proverbs 22:11.” The Bible: Easy-to-Read Version, Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2022%3A11&version=ERV.
“1 Samuel 16:7.” The Bible: Easy-to-Read Version, Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2016%3A7&version=ERV.
Henry, Matthew. “Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible.” Bible Study Tools, www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/.
Gaebelein, Frank E., editor. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Zondervan Publishing House.
Biblical Passages
- Proverbs 22:11 (Easy-to-Read Version) – Bible Gateway
- 1 Samuel 16:7 (Easy-to-Read Version) – Bible Gateway
Commentary & Explanations
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary