The Lord Knows The Heart Of The One He Elects

Reading from 1 Samuel 16:1-7; Consider talking to God and then listening before you vote.

God Sees

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 Sam 16:7 KJV)

Saul's time as king was coming to an end. It was time to anoint the next king of Israel so the Lord sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons. But, who would it be? The first son to come before Samuel was Eliab. He thought he looked like he'd make a fine king. But, the Lord said that it didn't matter what he looked like. What matters is what is in his heart. Humankind might judge by what we sees; but, the Lord knows who we really are because he knows whats in our hearts.

Seven of Jesse's paraded in front of Samuel. But, the Lord said that it was none of these. How could that be? The Lord had said the next king was to be one of Jesse's sons. So, Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. Yes, there was one more. David, the youngest, was out in the fields tending the sheep.

It was the youngest one, taking care of his father's business, his father's sheep who was to be anointed as the next king of Israel.

Too often we judge others by their appearance or their present place in society. Too often we place those who have found high status in the world above those who have not. But, it is not so with God. Over and over again, we see in scripture, that God has chosen the lowly, the youngest, those who have the least standing in the world.

Jesus reminds us: 

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matt 20:16)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Cannot See As God Sees

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.” 

                                                                                     1 Sam 16:7 NIV

I am color blind. Both of my sons inherited that gene from me, as well. When my oldest son was first learning his colors he had a rough time of it. He did great in Math and reading; but, the color chart was something else. It did not help that it was me who was also unable to clearly discern colors who was helping him learn.

When my youngest son came home and showed the family his new "dark green" car he found out that it was purple. That misperception was kind of understandable as it was speckled paint that changed a bit when the sun shone on it. John is a photographer. It amazes me that one who is color challenged can produce such awesome work. He also works at for an electrical company and does various kinds of wiring and running cable jobs at which he really needs to be able to discern the various colored wires clearly. Recently, he received a pair of glasses for color blind people to help him at work. I tried them on. Wow! They work! I could see the colors around me much more vividly.

We all see things from slightly different perspectives. Our eyes do not see exactly the same things as others do. Sometimes the difference in our perceptions is totally physiological. It may be genetic or a health issue. Other times it might have more to do with our environment and the impact our experiences have had on our perspective of life and of people and even of God. 

Neither are any of us truly capable of seeing as God sees. We have a tendency to see only what is visible; the outward appearance. But, God sees right through the visible to know who we really are. His vision is not limited to those things that are seen; but, the things that are unseen, as well.

What we see with our eyes we often accept as the only truth for us. Yes, we judge others by what our eyes see. We fail to see that there is more to them than the outward appearance. What we see with our eyes often puts the brakes on so that we cannot go any further to see the real person. We refuse to go further to see and to know the heart.

Samuel was to anoint the new king of Israel. He saw Jesse's son, Eliab, an outstanding man in appearance and thought for sure this would be God's next choice for king. But, it was not. God chose the youngest son of Jesse, a mere shepherd boy. 

Our vision is not perfect only God can see all things perfectly. May God help us to see past the seen to those things which we cannot see so that we might learn to not judge as quickly as we have a tendency to do.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Discerning By Outward Appearance

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.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

Human beings tend to judge people by what they see on the outside and then give themselves no chance to see who they really are. Young people today (and probably many generations before) tend to think that people should accept them as they are with baggy pants, piercings all over their heads, low cut or see through shirts, torn jeans, and rainbow colored hair. Unfortunately, employers understand that their business will often be judged by how their employees appear and they will typically hire someone who appears more conservatively. Young people also have the age factor working against them. Many employers would like a bit more experience working for them. Fair or not; that is reality. Many people will not give themselves the opportunity to get to know you because they can't get past the outward appearance.

But, God does know you. He knows your every thought and action. He knows what is in your heart. When selecting the next king of Israel he told Samuel don't be anointing Eliab because of his appearance. Keep on looking; I will tell you which one to anoint. It was not the eldest that the Lord chose. Although, he was also very pleasing to look at, it was the youngest son of Jesse; a mere sheepherder that was chosen to be the next king of Israel.


God chooses whom he will choose. Thanks be to God! He does not discern by age or beauty as humankind does. He looks at the heart.

May the Lord our God soften our hearts so that we will not judge others by first impressions of outward appearances.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Flower Or A Weed?

"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.'" 1 Samuel 16:7

When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king over Israel, Samuel saw the stature of Eliab and thought for sure this one must be the one. But, the Lord let him know that He had not chosen the next king of Israel by his outward appearance. In the end, it was Jesse's youngest son, David, just a shepherd in the field, who was called to be anointed to be the next king.

In the spring when the dandelions begin to bloom, my husband is always in a hurry to get rid of them. I see the yellow blossoms as wonderful signs of spring and I am grateful that they and spring have arrived. We each have a different perspective on what we see or hear. We see things differently. My husband sees weeds. I see flowers.

God see things a whole lot differently than we do. So what does God see when He looks into our hearts? Our neighbors may see our hearts as dark as the night. But, what does God see? Does he see a child in pain who has not yet learned how to deal with life around him? Does he see a heart that is aching for only the peace that He can give?

No one; but, God, can know what is truly in the heart of another person. Whether good or evil; whether a weed or a flower, only God can know for sure.

Who knows? The next weed that you try to destroy just might be a treasured flower; a beloved and chosen child of God.

Pr. J

God Looks At The Heart

"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.'" 1 Samuel 16:7

When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king over Israel, Samuel saw the stature of Eliab and thought for sure this one must be the one. But, the Lord let him know that He had not chosen the next king of Israel by his outward appearance. In the end, it was Jesse's youngest son, just a shepherd in the field, who was called to be anointed to be the next king.

In the spring when the dandelions begin to bloom, my husband is always in a hurry to get rid of them. I see the yellow blossoms as doing no harm. They are a sign of spring and I enjoy their presence in my yard. We each have a different perspective on what we see or hear. We see things differently. My husband sees weeds. I see flowers; a gift from God that are, in fact, consumable.

God see things a whole lot differently than we do. So what does God see when He looks into our hearts? Our neighbors may see our hearts as dark as the night. But, what does God see? Does he see a child in pain who has not yet learned how to deal with life around him? Does he see a heart that is aching for only the peace that He can give? 

No one; but, God, can know what is truly in the heart of another person. Whether good or evil; whether a weed or a flower, only God can know for sure.

Who knows? The next weed that you try to destroy just might be a treasured flower; a beloved and chosen child of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J