From a shepherd to a king
January 16, 2023 - Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
1 Samuel 16:1-13
The account in 1 Samuel 16 presents a pivotal moment in Israel's history, transitioning from the reign of King Saul to the selection of a new leader by the prophet Samuel. Saul's failure in obedience marked a turning point, prompting Samuel to seek a replacement. The biblical author brings us to the family of Jesse and parade in front of our eyes his sons. But, he withholds from us crucial information that one son is missing. Why? the absence of David, the youngest son, from this initial presentation is conspicuous—a detail reminiscent of Joseph, the dreamer, estranged from his brothers.
In this ancient version of the "red carpet" event, the first son presented to Samuel was Eliab who impressed the prophet in such a way that he was convinced this one was the chosen one. "Surely, the Lord's anointed stands before Him".Samuel is gently corrected by the Lord, who emphasizes the disparity between human perception and divine insight: "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Sam 16:7). This serves as a lesson, underscoring Saul's failure despite his striking appearance (1 Sam 9:2).
The procession of Jesse's sons concludes with Samuel's confusion. Seven sons were presented to him and no one among them was chosen by God. At this very moment, the author reveals to us that Jesse still had one more son who was not invited to the great ceremony. There is a continuous thread in the biblical story of God showing his preference for the youngest among the brothers which undermines cultural norms favoring the firstborn and hierarchical family structures.
The coming of David to the scene, his election, and anointing resonates within the Western culture with all the stories of insignificant people entering the stage and playing the most important part of the story. One can think, for example, about Cinderella who was also not invited to join a party dedicated to finding a wife for a king. By telling us that David was tending the flock, the author reminds us of Moses, a shepherd destined to be the greatest leader of Israel.
David's story imparts timeless lessons. In contemporary society, the allure of visible attributes often influences our perceptions, akin to Samuel's initial assessment based on appearance. Elections, much like modern advertising, often prioritize superficial aspects and that leads to bad choices. But the Lord also does not appoint leaders for us anymore either. And, so similar to Samuel's confusion regarding the available candidates, we question if our current choices suffice for governance. However, a surprising revelation emerges: there are many unrecognized "Davids" and "Cinderellas" among us, unseen due to societal norms that shape our reality. When the Lord orchestrates their entrance onto the central stage, transformative change unfolds.