The Verse of the Day

-August 3, 2020-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Man Looks On The Outward Appearance, But The Lord Looks At The Heart-

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”

(1 Samuel 16:7).

There is a vast difference between God and man. God is holy, righteous, just, and perfect; man is sinful, finite, and human. What God sees and considers important is the opposite of what man sees: man sees and values the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

The Lord sent the prophet Samuel to anoint one of the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem to be the next king to replace Saul, who had disobeyed God. Samuel was not sent to choose for himself, but to anoint God’s choice. Jesse had eight sons, seven of which were in the house at the time.

Samuel immediately saw Eliab as the perfect choice. The Lord advises and warns him not to be deceived by his appearance or physical stature. When the people of Israel requested a king like the other nations, God gave them Saul, who was tall, dark, and handsome. From a physical standpoint he was literally head and shoulders above anyone else.

If the godly man Samuel looked on the outward appearance, how about us? Do we not do the same? Women look for the most handsome, strongest man; men look for the most beautiful, shapely woman. We human beings are wired that way. It is hard for us to see the inward person.

All seven of Jesse’s sons were rejected by the Lord. Samuel did not understand it and asked if all Jesse’s sons were there. Jesse tells him there is one left, the youngest, who was tending the sheep. Of course that was David, God’s choice. God called him, “A man after My own heart.” Samuel anointed him king, but David had to wait years for God’s timing for Saul to die in battle before he would rule Judah, then all Israel.

The lesson for us is that the heart, the inward man is what is most important. God values and delights in our relationship to Him, our walk with Him, and how we please, honor, and serve Him. People spend so much time and money to look good on the outside but so little on the what is on the inside. Our priority should be to value first character, then personality, then outward attractiveness.

Man sees the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart. I am sure Samuel thought a lot about this on his way back home. We should think about it and act on it as well. It will radically transform our perspective on what is most important in others and in ourselves. The correct order of importance in Scripture is spirit, soul, and body, not the other way around. Psalm 147:10-11 says, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.”

Have a blessed day looking at the heart. Stay safe and healthy.