When God Chooses from Unlikely Quarters

by Rev. Williams Abba  |  01/26/2023  |  Images of Faith

There was a king who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called Simpleton and was despised and mocked for his overwhelming stupidity. By the end of the story, however, it is Simpleton who has won the hand of the Princess and inherited the kingdom. In the world of the fairy tale, it is usually the least likely candidate who wins in the end. The least candidate likely is often the youngest son, who is seen to be stupid compared with his elder brothers: he is innocent of their worldly wisdom and cunning. He is the psychological summary of all that is weak and third-rate, and his chances of success in life are regarded as a joke.

Yet, he is the one who succeeds. And he does this, not because he follows a course on how to succeed with nothing going for you, but because something happens to him. He is chosen to succeed by those who see more in him than meets the eye. His success is not due to his native effort, but to the fact that he is helped by others who have special powers.

In our first reading today, we hear how the prophet Samuel is commissioned by God to choose a successor to King Saul. He is sent to Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of his eight sons as the future king. Samuel is impressed by the eldest son and presumes that this young man of great height will be God’s choice. But no. The prophet learns: “God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Jesse presents seven of his sons to the prophet; it doesn’t occur to him that his youngest son might be suitable: he is only a shepherd boy. None of the seven comes up to expectation, so number eight is called in from the hills. The Lord sees in David something more than meets the eye. And the young shepherd boy is God's eccentric choice for future.

The story of David speaks to us about God’s choices. Because God sees the heart, he chooses differently from the way we do. David is remembered and celebrated by the Christian community because he points beyond himself to the reality of the divine. We honor David as the one who points ultimately to the Son of David.

God has elected us to display his works. In our baptism we have been chosen to point to Jesus by the witness of our Christian lives. To many people, including ourselves, we may seem an unlikely choice. But our greatness lies in the fact that we have been chosen, not in ourselves alone. Allowing God to work in us, we can keep alive the story of God's eccentric choices. Let us rejoice and be glad that the Lord has chosen us!