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. 1 Samuel 16: 7.
Dear LORD, as we enter the study of Your Word, our prayer is, that You might be our teacher. In the name of Jesus we pray; Amen.
This topic is very relevant in our society. In mainstream America, beauty is very important. What is unfortunate, is that we have a limited view of what is beautiful. Personally, I believe that there are several versions of beauty. That is because I believe that beauty, real beauty, is to be found in variety, and diversity, but more importantly, on the inside. I believe it is the different hues of color in a garden that makes it beautiful. The red roses in a garden might be lovely, but it is the green grass, and the green leaves and stem, that really help to make a rose garden beautiful. I cannot imagine red roses, with red stems, and red leaves, growing in the midst of red grass! Besides being hard on my eyes; I need the green to offset the monotony.
In the corporate world, it is the beautiful, or impressive, people, that are placed in visible positions in offices. That first impression must be very good, in order to ensure, or at the very least, encourage, a business deal! The outward appearance, is so important to us! In the story of David, the shepherd boy who became king; we read that Samuel the prophet, was very impressed with Eliab, David’s eldest brother. As soon as he saw him, he exclaimed, “Surely this is the LORD’s annointed” (6). Can you imagine his surprise at God’s response: “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (7, NLT)!
We have often heard the phrase, and perhaps have even repeated it ourselves: “Never judge a book by its cover;” but that is exactly what we do, anyway! If you do not look a certain way, you are automatically rejected in some groups. We would expect that in spiritual things it would be different. Not so! Here was Samuel, the man of God. As such, you would expect him to have “spiritual eyesight.” You would expect him to be looking beyond what the natural eyes can see. Instead, he was visibly impressed by the good looks and height of Eliab, until God alerted him to the fact that he was not His choice. Jesse’s other sons passed by before Samuel, but none of them were selected by God.
After inquiring about any other siblings, it was discovered that, there was another son; the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Obviously, his father was so sure that it was definitely, not the shepherd boy of the family, that God was going to select as king; that David was not even summoned to be presented before the prophet. So God waits patiently until the father has presented the candidates of his choice, and then revealed to them, that the king to be, was in training, out in the field; taking care of sheep! You see, my friends, true leaders are often found in the most unusual places. They are usually placed in humble settings while in training; getting ready for service to the King of kings!
David the king, was a shepherd boy. Moses the liberator, was a shepherd. Daniel, a prime minister to two world empires, was an Israelite captive; so were his three friends who became men of prominence in the Babylonian kingdom. Joseph was a slave, then a prisoner, who became second, only in name (he was really first in decision-making) in Egypt, the greatest nation of the then-known world. That is because God does not see the way we do!