“How will we ever replace such a leader?” As mourning crowds file through Westminster Hall, thus honoring the memory of Queen Elizabeth II, they might ask each other such a question. Samuel also grieved, not because King Saul had died, but because Saul had departed from the Lord’s will (15:35, 16:1). But such grief over the loss or the failure of a good leader can easily degenerate into idolatry, if we imagine that people of great character, determination and courage can never be replaced.

On the other hand, given the great power that our leaders possess, it’s just as easy for us to live in fear of them, to lose hope that we can continue to obey God in spite of their opposition to His will. Just so, Samuel was hesitant to travel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, knowing that Saul could easily lash out at him for such “treason.”

But in either case, we are forgetting Who is really in charge. And just as God had already selected a new king for His people before Samuel ever set off for Bethlehem, God knows who will replace all our current leaders, no matter how good or how bad they may be. For regardless of who holds any office at any given time, God continues to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

But given that we Americans have the right and the responsibility to elect so many of our own leaders in both church and state, how can we tell whom God would have us choose? Well, given that ancient kings had to lead their troops into battle, it’s easy to understand Samuel’s assumption that Jesse’s oldest son must be the one God had chosen – after all, he looked the part. In the same way, we might be tempted to pick candidates just because of their prior achievements or their particular skills, or even because of their charm or personal appearance.

But in verse 7, God reminds us that the heart of a leader is what is most important. And the most important characteristic of a leader’s heart is that he or she is filled with the Holy Spirit, just as David was (verse 13). For it is only those who are filled with the Spirit of God who will consistently desire to know God’s will for their people, who will be able to discern God’s will in any given situation, and who will have the courage and determination to do God’s will, regardless of whatever opposition might come their way.

So instead of making idols of our leaders, let’s seek to worship and serve Christ alone. And as we seek to choose leaders who have the same sort of desire to follow Jesus, let us pray that God will continue to lead them so that they in turn might lead us in the way God would have all of us to go.

I Samuel 16:1-13 (NASB)

Now 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 selected a king for Myself among his sons.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When 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.’
3 “And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.”
4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”
5 And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 Then it came about when they entered, that he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”
9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.