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Jesse - God Searches All The Heart

By James Vasquez

From them I thought strong progeny,
Would one day be mine to enjoy,
As ‘mongst our clan they took their place,
That each his talents might employ.

And when I thought on whence I’d come,
‘Twas clear there was a flaw or two,
Like Rahab and the widow Ruth,
For neither was, in fact, a Jew.

From Rahab had come down some tales,
Of fascination, beyond doubt,
Of walls that tumbled, spies that saved,
And towns that had received a rout.

But she herself, well, let me say,
Abode within the city wall,
Her guests each day from dawn till dusk,
Were mostly males, if not all.

Yes, she with Moabitess Ruth,
Had somehow entered our pure race,
And oft I wondered how my sons,
Could rise above this raw disgrace.

But quite appealing to the eye,
Was each dear son, as I have said,
And so I hoped they’d overcome,
This family blight nor seem ill bred.

And how could God have ordained this?
Had he, I thought, some purpose yet?
Or had some enemy begot,
This baneful, vile, unwelcome threat?

But then one day there came to town,
Great Samuel from th’ Almighty sent.
To find a king, anointing well,
Some chosen son was his intent.

He bade me with my sons attend,
A sacrifice he was to make,
To God above who then would show,
Just which of all my sons to take.

And how my thoughts then leapt with joy!
And could it be Eliab, now?
My firstborn who has proved himself,
Before whom e’en his brothers bow?

‘Twas not to be, I quickly learned,
For Samuel turned to me and said,
"The Lord looks not on outward form,
But deep within the heart instead."

Abinadab, my second-born,
I called at once before the man,
And with a glance the prophet said,
That he was not within God’s plan.

And sev’n fine sons I made appear,
Before the prophet’s watchful eye,
He looked them over long and well,
Yet none was found to satisfy.

And for a moment then I thought,
This prophet, man of God, this seer,
Looked somewhat doubtful and displayed,
A troubled look, confused, severe.

"And is there yet no other son,
Your wife has borne that I might see?"
"There is the youngest," I replied,
"Who tends a herd of sheep for me."

"Now send for him, we shall not rest,
Nor sacrifice till he appears."
And so young David stood before,
Great Samuel, of ancient years.

A ruddy and a handsome face,
With features finely carved well seen,
He served me most while in the field,
Attending sheep, alone, serene.

‘Twas there he sang and played the lyre,
And oft was seen with upward gaze,
He cared for sheep but loved still more,
The starry hosts in bright arrays.

Then Samuel rose, "This is the one,
The Lord has chosen to anoint.
As king he’ll reign o’er Israel,
And all her fortunes will appoint."

And I with all his brothers there,
Beheld as David’s head with oil,
Was thus anointed till the drops,
Flowed down his body to the soil.

‘Twas not his features pleasing God,
But what was seen so deep within.
God searches all the heart to see,
If to his own it is akin.

And finally, then, I understood,
Why those two women were embraced,
Why Ruth, though foreign, was received,
And all of Rahab’s past erased.