Open Heaven 16 November 2026: Divine Elevation
OPEN HEAVEN 16 November 2026 MEMORISE: He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalm 40:2
READ: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. 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 brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Read Other Open Heaven Devotional Here
God can pick someone from prison and make him or her a prime minister on the same day (Genesis 41:14-44). He can pick a beggar from the dunghill and take him or her to the throne.
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them. 1 Samuel 2:8
God can bring something out of nothing and also make it overflow. A good example of this is found in Numbers 20:1-11, where the Israelites desired water in the desert, and God caused water to flow out of a rock in abundance. They drank and even had more than enough for their cattle.
God can also elevate the destitute to a higher level where they will have more than enough for the rest of their lives.
God did this in 2 Kings 4:1-2, when he elevated a widow from poverty to a life of abundance.
Her late husband’s creditor was about to take her two sons away to be bondmen, but God intervened in her situation through Prophet Elisha, and her story changed for the better.
God turned her shame into celebration, and she lived in abundance with her sons.
If there is any area of your life where you are currently experiencing shame and sadness, may the Lord intervene and turn your mourning into dancing, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of how God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint one of his sons as the next king.
When Samuel arrived, Jesse presented all his sons, whom he considered eligible.
Samuel was on the verge of anointing Eliab, who appeared to be the perfect candidate for the throne, but God stopped him and told him that He had rejected Eliab. Abinadab was presented next, and he was also rejected.
After Jesse had presented seven of his sons to Samuel and none of them had been chosen, Samuel asked him if he had any other sons.
To show how neglected David was, his father didn’t even remember him until Samuel asked the question.
Jesse must have reluctantly sent someone to get David. However, immediately David arrived, God told Samuel to arise and anoint him.
I pray that God will locate you wherever you are and single you out for divine elevation, in Jesus’ name.
OPEN HEAVEN 16 NOVEMBER 2026 PRAYER POINT
Lord, please single me out for glory, in Jesus’ name.
OPEN HEAVEN 16 NOVEMBER 2026 HYMN:
I’m Pressing On
OPEN HEAVEN 16 NOVEMBER 2026 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 12-13
