Dramatic reading of 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
“Today’s reading is the story of a boy named David who has seven, count them – seven, older brothers.”

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.

The Lord said to Samuel,

“How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

Samuel said,

“How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”

And the Lord said,

“Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.”

Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem.

The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said,

(Choir— several voices) “Do you come peaceably?”

He said, (Samuel makes the peace sign)  “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” (Samuel signals for Jesse and his sons to join him— places the cow on the communion table)

(Jesse enters with his 7 sons— line up in front of communion table)

(Samuel shakes hands with Jesse and his sons) And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

(Samuel begins with the first son) When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought,

(Samuel points to 1st son— and mimes as if saying off to the side) “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.”

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 does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (Samuel takes a thoughtful pose)

(Jesse stands behind and starts to push each son forward- one at a time according to the narration- Each son should strike a pose or mime to be picked)

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said,

“Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”

(as each son is NOT chosen they should go down from “stage” and stay down in the front area of the church so they can witness David’s anointing)

Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said,

“Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse,

“The Lord has not chosen any of these.”

Samuel said to Jesse,

“Are all your sons here?”

And he said,

(Jesse puts his hand out to show— a small son) “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.”

And Samuel said to Jesse, (Samuel gestures) “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said,

“Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.”

(Samuel anoints David— brothers look on) Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

MESSAGE
‘This chapter of Samuel is about seeing things right.
It is not about only what your eyes offer you but to Look into more than the outside
To Look to the heart and soul and the character and intent of someone.

Our text today insists that not only CAN God use small things to do big things, but that God’s preferred method of operation is small things.
Children, who are often sent to eat at the kids table and are sometimes not included at interesting looking events can feel over looked and undervalued.
They, like David, have been left behind when the rest of the family went off for a sacrifice and feast.
So they appreciate God’s making everyone wait until David can be included and God’s insistence (in front of all his big brothers and father) that David is “the one.”

As a culture we seem obsessed with superheroes and heroines who “save the world” with splashy deeds.
We admire real life people who make the big plays in sports — Labron James, Sirena Williams and other parts of the real world.
We all long to do something “special,” “important,” “big,”… .
And when we are young we sense in the question, “what will you do/be when you grow up?” the need to have a plan or at least a wish to do something important that will “save the world.”

It is vital for all of us to affirm the young members among us as important contributors to our life together as a church family NOW
We need to help everyone to value what they can do here and now, every day. — Not what they will do when they grow up or get their act together….
We have no future without all of us… including the children and we have so much to learn from them and each other.

God will work in us— no matter how young or old, or what our abilities to do big things.

Who knows who Hiccup is?
(How To Train Your Dragon – animated movie from Pixar)
Hiccup is the son of a Viking chief, who expects him to be the next chief.

Because Hiccup is not the brawny, warrior his Dad is, Dad and everyone else looks down on Hiccup and they belittle him.

Hiccup however is paying attention to the dragons who attack the town.

Rather than kill the young dragon he finds, he befriends it and uses what he learns about dragons from it to befriend all the dragons.

Turns out Hiccup was just the leader the Vikings truly needed.

I won’t avoid sharing with you that I think that David was a lousy father, husband and more… his personal life was a mess
he misused his power
David killed one of his soldiers to get his wife
But God still used David to do some great things

My point is God uses unlikely folks, people who make all kinds of mistakes or don’t fit the stereotype.
imperfect people like you and me can be used by God to do amazing things. Amen