1 Samuel 16:7

Written ~ 08-18-2023

1 Samuel 16:7

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge his appearance and 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.”

1 Samuel 16:1 finds Samuel mourning over Saul and the Lord told him it was time to stop mourning and find the next king. Because of King Saul’s disobedience, the Lord had rejected him and was no longer with him, Samuel was to find and anoint the next king. This chapter begins the story, the journey, of David, the young shepherd boy who becomes king.

Each of Jesse’s seven sons looked like they were well equipped to become king, Samuel looked at their stature, their appearance. Samuel was ready to anoint any one of them by their appearance alone.  But God rejected every one of them. It wasn’t until David was called in from the field that the Lord said, “Yes, he’s the one.” David was small, only about 15 years old, Samuel would have passed him over, simply by looking at his appearance, his stature. But the Lord had a much different perspective.

In our verse for today, the year was somewhere around 1000 B.C., even back then it is quite interesting how important one’s appearance was to get noticed or promoted. Catapult to the current age, where appearance seems to be the number one priority. The illusion of beauty has gotten so warped with all the photograph filters, Botox and plastic surgery, it’s difficult to know what’s real and what isn’t. Our society has gotten to the point that appearance, fake or not, is what gets you noticed.

It must grieve the Lord when He sees us passing judgment on someone just for their appearance. In the Message (MSG) verse 16:7 says,

“Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”

I’m sure all of us are guilty of judging someone by their appearance. How do we get past this outward judgment? By having the heart of the Lord within us. What is it about looking at someone at face value that tells us whether or not we associate with them? It is sad, isn’t it? To be so caught up with the external that we miss out on getting to know a wonderful person. If Samuel hadn’t listened to the heart of God, he might have anointed the wrong man to become the next king.

If God looks at the heart, does that mean we don’t attend to our personal hygiene, fix our hair, and wear clean clothes? No, but it shouldn’t be the focus of our day. It has taken me many, many years to not get caught up with worrying about what other people think of me by how I look. There was a time in my life where I could not leave the house, under ANY circumstance, without my full-face makeup, hair styled to perfection and wearing clothing to accentuate my figure. I needed that approval from others to find my confidence. Well, that proved to be disastrous for my self-worth. Because I worried about what others thought of me by looking at my appearance it overruled what they might have thought of me as a person. I spent years working on an outward appearance when God wanted me work on myself from the inside out.

Luke 12:25-28 in the Message (MSG) says,

“Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance — but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you?”

My perception of myself needed to change. If I couldn’t see myself as God saw me? How would I ever be able to see anyone else the way God saw them. If I was judging myself, I was definitely judging others.

David was a teenager, 15 years old! A shepherd. There was nothing about his appearance that spoke royalty. But God knew his heart. Think back to when you were 15. Yikes, for many of us those teenage years are ones we want to forget. The awkwardness, the lack of self-confidence, giving in to peer pressure. If you weren’t that kind of teenager, maybe you were one that looked down on others and made them feel unworthy because of their appearance and social status. Either way, there was a lot of outward judgment going on. Even Samuel was guilty of it, he almost passed over David.

Let’s try to focus on what God sees. Are we quick to judge? Let’s listen to the heart of God, see what God sees. If our attitude needs to change, then ask God to help in that area. In Luke 16:15 from the Message (MSG) it says,

“Jesus spoke to them: “You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what’s behind the appearance. What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous.”

In other words, it’s very easy to hide behind the mask of beauty, society praises your efforts by your appearance. But what is your intention? What does God see?

1 Samuel 16:10-12 in the Message (MSG) says,

“Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel. Samuel was blunt with Jesse, “God hasn’t chosen any of these. Then he asked Jesse, “Is this it? Are there no more sons?” “Well, yes, there’s the runt. But he’s out tending the sheep.” Samuel ordered Jesse, “Go get him. We’re not moving from this spot until he’s here.” Jesse sent for him. He was brought in, the very picture of health—bright-eyed, good-looking. God said, “Up on your feet! Anoint him! This is the one.”

Notice how Jesse, David’s own father, responds to Samuel when he is questioned. Even David’s father dismisses him, calling him the runt, only a shepherd, even he couldn’t see his own son’s potential. But look at God’s response! “This is the one.”

“People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

My prayer is that I would respond as the Lord does, by looking at the person’s heart rather than their appearance. I want the heart of God to be my focus. I also pray that those looking at me would see the heart of God in me first.

Thank You, Father for Your unfailing love. Thank You for seeing my heart and using me because of what You see within, not by what my hair looks like or what clothes I’m wearing.

I love You LORD!

~Amen~