God’s Criteria for Choosing Leaders | 1 Samuel 16:7

08/25/24 • 3 min

The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

We know how you choose leaders, but do you know how God chooses leaders?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we start a new chapter, 1 Samuel 16. I've titled this chapter "God's Criteria for Choosing Leaders."

The key verse of Chapter 16 is verse 7. It reads:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “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 Samuel 16:7

In this chapter, you will see a difference between Samuel's, Jesse's, and God's choice of a leader. Samuel has a bias toward the size of the man. Jesse, David's father, has a bias toward the age of the man. And God has a bias toward the heart of a man.

This is one of the challenges in selecting a leader. We judge based on things we see, like experience, education, and competency. We make appointments based on vision, values, passion, and plans. We assess appearance, communication, character, and emotional intelligence. However, a potential leader can appear competent and proficient in all these areas and still fail the one test that is challenging to administer and evaluate — the nature of the leader's heart.

As followers of God, we should assess and address our hearts. This is God's primary concern. He cares about external matters but only as they are driven, directed, and determined by the internal matter—your heart.

Here are my questions for you today.

Question one is, "How's your heart?"

Take a moment to reflect on that question. Write it out. Talk it out with someone.

Question two is, "Would God select you?"

Now, most of you are going to disqualify yourselves. If this is the case, let's alter the question to: "What do you need to address in your heart for God to qualify as his leader?"

#HeartOfLeadership, #GodsCriteria, #1Samuel16

Ask This:

What aspects of your life might be reflecting an outward appearance of leadership or righteousness but potentially masking issues within your heart? How can you bring those internal struggles to God for transformation?
How can you cultivate a heart that aligns more closely with God's values and intentions for leadership? Consider specific actions or changes to reflect a heart seeking God's approval over man's.

Do This:

Assess and address.

Pray This:

Lord, help me to see beyond the outward appearances and focus on the condition of my heart. Guide me in aligning my inner life with Your standards, so that I may lead with integrity and reflect Your values. Amen.

Play This:

Here's My Heart.

We know how you choose leaders, but do you know how God chooses leaders?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we start a new chapter, 1 Samuel 16. I've titled this chapter "God's Criteria for Choosing Leaders."

The key verse of Chapter 16 is verse 7. It reads:

Here are my questions for you today.

Question one is, "How's your heart?"

Take a moment to reflect on that question. Write it out. Talk it out with someone.

Question two is, "Would God select you?"

Now, most of you are going to disqualify yourselves. If this is the case, let's alter the question to: "What do you need to address in your heart for God to qualify as his leader?"

#HeartOfLeadership, #GodsCriteria, #1Samuel16

Ask This:

What aspects of your life might be reflecting an outward appearance of leadership or righteousness but potentially masking issues within your heart? How can you bring those internal struggles to God for transformation?
How can you cultivate a heart that aligns more closely with God's values and intentions for leadership? Consider specific actions or changes to reflect a heart seeking God's approval over man's.

Do This:

Assess and address.

Pray This:

Play This:

Here's My Heart.

Previous Episode

Grieving Our National Leaders | 1 Samuel 15:34-35

Do you grieve our national leaders?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 15. I've titled this chapter "The Consequences of Disobedience."

In yesterday's devotional, we saw how Saul's insecurity led him to disobedience by prioritizing the people's voice over God's, which resulted in his leadership being torn from him and given to the man we will read about in the next chapter. With this, we close off this chapter with this sad reality in verses 34-35:

Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. — 1 Samuel 15:34-35

These two men went to their homes and never saw each other again. It is such a sad ending to forty years. We also learn that Samuel would outlive King Saul. That is an interesting detail, considering that before Saul was appointed King, the people thought Samuel was old and needed a successor. Now we learn Samuel would outlive his reign.

But notice Samuel's response to Saul. He was "grieved over" him. Samuel didn't psychologically hate him. He hoped something better would have transpired during his reign and that Saul would have obeyed. Therefore, he grieves for him and the situation.

I have met many believers from generations ahead of me who feel the same about our time. They are grieved about what they see and hear in our time, and their hearts are heavy.

Faithful servants of God don't celebrate fallen leaders and God's judgment and retribution. They grieve it because they know that sin awaits everyone, and they, too, are susceptible to its consequences.

Pray for our national leaders. Pray against untruthful ideologies and ask that God's truth be revealed to them. Pray that they will act in obedience to God. Pray for an end to untruth, disobedience, and deception. But don't celebrate it—grieve it because you, too, have sinful inclinations.

God, we pray for our nation. We pray for all our leaders. Expose untruth, reveal the truth, and call our leaders to obey you. Amen.

#PrayForLeaders, #GrieveNotCelebrate, #FaithfulResponse

Ask This:

How can you cultivate a heart of empathy and prayerfulness when faced with the failures or shortcomings of those in leadership positions, both in your community and on a national level?
In what ways can you personally model obedience to God in your daily life, especially when you see others in leadership not living out these values? How can this influence your prayers and actions toward leaders?

Do This:

Pray for our leaders.

Pray This:

Lord, help me grieve our leaders' shortcomings with a heart full of compassion and prayer rather than judgment. Guide me to live in obedience to Your commands and to seek Your truth in every situation. Amen.

Play This:

Let the Nations Rise.

Next Episode

Breaking Free From Consuming Emotions | 1 Samuel 16:1-4

Are there consuming emotions that prevent you from seeing God's plan?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 16. I've titled this chapter "God's Criteria for Choosing Leaders."

Today, we pick up right after Samuel had done two things: First, he told King Saul God had rejected him. Second, he hacked Agag to pieces because King Saul had not done it. Today, we pick up in Samuel 16 with verses 1-4, where Samuel is now back at his home:

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” — 1 Samuel 16:1-4

We see Samuel's human side here. Like all of us, he experienced grief and fear.

These are real human emotions and concerns we will all experience at some point. We experience grief in relationships when we encounter human frailty, sin, or loss. We experience fear when the future is uncertain, our family is falling apart, or we suddenly lose jobs. And when these things happen, we tend to become overly concerned about ourselves, precisely what Samuel has done here.

But usually, in your time of great grief and fear, God is up to something. You won't always see it because you will tend to become overly focused on yourself. Therefore, God and his plan will seem far from you because you have made too much of the situation and how you feel.

This is what Samuel has done, and God is trying to help him snap out of it.

So, notice what God tells Samuel to do to help him snap out of it. He tells him to do his job, be obedient, get a heifer, and make a sacrifice. In short, God tells him to be obedient in his grief and fear, like he always has, even though those steps are hard to take.

The principle is this: In difficult times, our obedience is how God reveals his plan and provides relief.

God had a plan for Israel, a plan for the next king, and a plan to relieve Samuel of his grief and fears. This plan would only be realized if he took the hard steps of obedience. It was not going to be revealed by focusing on his grief or being consumed by his fears. It would only be revealed if he did what he always did, continued to listen to God in this hard moment, and acted in obedience.

If you are currently consumed by concerning emotions, the best thing you can do is turn your focus to God and continue to be obedient to him. Ruminating on your losses and problems won't help, but taking steps of obedience will. Eventually, through obedience, you will see God's plan for your marriage, your career, your loss, and even your egregious sin.

God, I pray that you will give us strength to be obedient to you today and that you will relieve us of those consuming and concerning emotions that prevent us from seeing your plan. Amen.

#FaithOverFear, #ObedienceInTrials, #TrustGodsPlan

Ask This:

What emotions are currently consuming you, and how might obedience to God's Word help you regain focus on His plan?
Can you recall a time when choosing obedience in a difficult situation revealed God's purpose for your life? How did that experience shape your faith?

Do This:

Be obedient, and God will reveal his plan to you.

Pray This:

Lord, help me to trust Your plan even when I’m overwhelmed by fear and grief. Give me the strength to be obedient, knowing that through my faithfulness, You will reveal Your purpose. Amen.

Play This:

Have It All.