Definition: And Samuel said, When thou [wast] little in thine own sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 15:17. It’s a really important passage about God’s plan for Israel! Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse says: “Samuel knew he wasn’t a powerful leader at first. He didn't think he was the king of Israel. But God saw that he was worthy to be king, and He chose him anyway.” Let's unpack it a little further: "When thou [wast] little in thine own sight..." – This means Samuel started out feeling like he wasn’t good enough, that he didn’t have the ability to lead. He was maybe a bit insecure or worried about his own worthiness. "...and thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel…" – This is a big deal! Samuel was not the leader of the tribes – those were the leaders who were chosen by God to lead the people. He wasn’t in charge of the tribe of Judah, for example. "...and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?" – This is the crucial part. God recognized Samuel's worthiness and declared Him to be king! He saw that his humble beginnings didn't diminish His divine authority. What’s the big takeaway? It’s a powerful message about God’s love and grace. He chose someone who wasn't naturally powerful or impressive, but he still trusted them enough to be king. It shows us that God doesn’t always need us to be the biggest or most powerful – He can use those who are humble and obedient to Him. In a nutshell: Samuel was chosen as king because of his faith and obedience, not because of his own abilities. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you some context about the story of Samuel’s life?