It’s All About The Heart
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely, the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either”…
Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in...
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
So Samuel took the flask of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.
1 Samuel 16:6-13
God had sent the prophet Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s children to replace Saul as the next king of Israel. It was obvious that Samuel had his own expectations of how the king should look like. When he saw Eliab, his immediate reaction was, “Surely, the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” But God responded, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him...People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” How easy it is to miss God if we focus on appearances alone!
Samuel was out on a critical divine assignment; one that held lasting consequences for the destiny of God’s people. He did what came natural to him - he judged by what he saw with his eyes. But God rejected his judgment.
Judging by outward appearances is the most natural thing for us a humans. No one can really know and judge what’s in a person's heart. Until a person reveals the depths of his heart through speech or action, it is almost impossible to know what is concealed within. So how do we avoid the costly mistake of going by appearances and ending up with the wrong choice?
Let me make a couple of suggestions:
First, we must be willing to let go of our natural biases. We must not be so fixated on our natural biases that we are unwilling to divest ourselves of them. Those biases can impair our judgment.
Second: We must be willing to humble ourselves and listen to God. The heart of man can only be revealed through divine intimation. If we patiently pray, wait and cooperate with God, He will give us some insight into the heart of the people we have to deal with in critical situations.
Whether it is the choice of a spouse, an employee, a business partner or a political leader, what’s in a person’s heart is of critical importance. It’s more about the heart than appearance.
Samuel was out on a critical divine assignment; one that held lasting consequences for the destiny of God’s people. He did what came natural to him - he judged by what he saw with his eyes. But God rejected his judgment.
Judging by outward appearances is the most natural thing for us a humans. No one can really know and judge what’s in a person's heart. Until a person reveals the depths of his heart through speech or action, it is almost impossible to know what is concealed within. So how do we avoid the costly mistake of going by appearances and ending up with the wrong choice?
Let me make a couple of suggestions:
First, we must be willing to let go of our natural biases. We must not be so fixated on our natural biases that we are unwilling to divest ourselves of them. Those biases can impair our judgment.
Second: We must be willing to humble ourselves and listen to God. The heart of man can only be revealed through divine intimation. If we patiently pray, wait and cooperate with God, He will give us some insight into the heart of the people we have to deal with in critical situations.
Whether it is the choice of a spouse, an employee, a business partner or a political leader, what’s in a person’s heart is of critical importance. It’s more about the heart than appearance.