Wednesday Word 9.15.2021

 1 Samuel 16:5-6   New Living Translation

5 “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. 6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “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.”

We’ve all heard the old saying “appearances can be deceiving,” but that doesn’t stop us from that initial evaluation of our fellow man based on their physical attributes. Science will tell us our initial reactions are tied to our estimation of who would donate the best DNA for the next generation. Or maybe who we could take down if it came to a fight or who might best defend us. Or, we simply judge who best meets our personal aesthetic standards.

It applies today as it did in Samuel’s time. Samuel just assumed that God had chosen the physically imposing, strapping young man who was Jesse’s eldest to succeed Saul and lead his people. One after the other, Samuel realized that God had rejected the seven sons of Jesse. When he called for the eighth son, the youngest, Samuel found God’s choice. That David was “dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes” (1 Samuel 16:12) didn’t hurt. After all, God wanted the people to follow his chosen leader!

It was David’s heart and faithful nature that God was going to call upon, not his looks. David’s story reveals many instances of bravery, perseverance, military and political savvy. Like the rest of mankind, we also see instances of his very poor choices. We learn in 1 Chronicles 28:9, David would someday say to his son and successor, “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him…” The Lord sees our hearts and knows our thoughts. What will he see in us?…something to pray about.

 Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.


                                                                                     photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash


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