If you have ever been forgotten about, overlooked, and underestimated by others and the world in general you will be able to relate to a guy named David. (You’ll find some of his story in 1 Samuel 13 in the bible.)
David was the youngest of seven boys, and from all accounts his big brothers were a hard act to follow. They were good looking and of notable physic and stature, and were obviously known around town. When Samuel the prophet of God came to their town David’s father Jesse and older brothers were all invited to an important ceremony with Samuel and the town elders. However David was not. Instead of being invited to come celebrate with the rest of the men of the family, he was left forgotten about, out in the fields tending his father’s sheep.
The prophet Samuel had been sent by God to choose a new King and one of Jesse’s sons was to be the “man of the hour.” But instead of choosing one of David’s older, stronger, more impressive looking brothers to be King, God instructed Samuel to ask after the brother that everyone else had forgotten and overlooked. For God saw and heard David out in the fields singing and worshipping Him, whilst doing the best he could in the role he had been given as a shepherd. God saw David and estimated him to be worthy of the honour of being King of Israel, when everyone else overlooked him, “for the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
The important point to take from the life of David is that God’s perspective is very different from men. Man looks at the outward appearance; what someone achieves, looks like, talks like, and dresses like. Men and women for that matter, are prone to primarily look at how good someone looks, instead of taking the time to get to know what a person is like on the inside. What is their heart like; who are they when no one is looking, when there is no one to impress or when they’re having a bad day. That is what really matters, and that is who we truly are.
God chose David because of these attributes even when no one else “saw him.” He grew to become a mighty man and King before both God and man, and has the renown as being known as a “man after God’s own heart, who will do God’s will.”
“God raised up for them David as King, to whom also He gave testimony and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will. (Acts 13:22)
The fact is that regardless of what the world and people may say, we have to determine whose opinion matters to us most. People’s or God’s? For man can and often will overlook, underestimate, forget about, and speak against us, but God won’t. No matter who we are He has planned each of us with a purpose, a place, and significance in His sight. Even when we feel that no one notices us, or are on our side, God is. He is for us, and He calls us His masterpiece, and one who is fearfully and wonderfully made.
These words of David can be found in Psalm 139 and tell of how much God sees us, and how we matter to Him.
“For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
Today, take a fresh look in the mirror and see the person that God’s sees. Not the one that may feel forgotten, ugly, ordinary or rejected, but the one who is loved, accepted, and who has a reason and purpose for being alive. For that is the person that God sees, and that is the person He wants the entire world to see too!
Prayer: Lord help me to see myself as you see me; as someone who is fearfully and wonderfully made, and has a purpose and plan. Please do a work within my heart so that my self image is found in what you say about me rather than what the world says. In Jesus name Amen.
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