1 Samuel 16:6-10 Outward Appearance!

 ”So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” 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.” So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”“ I Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him: As Samuel looked at the oldest son Eliab he thought, “This man sure looks like a king. This must be the one God will tell me to anoint. That’s a good choice, God!” Samuel saw a tall, good-looking young man who looked like he would be a great king and leader.

b. Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him: Samuel made the mistake of judging Eliab based on his appearance. This was the same mistake Israel made about their first king. Saul looked the part, but he didn’t have the heart a king of God’s people should have. It didn’t matter how good Eliab looked because God said, “I have refused him.”

c. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart: This was both a statement of fact and an exhortation to godly thinking.

i. First, it was a statement of fact. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. Even the best of men will look at the outward appearance. At that moment, Samuel was guilty of it. We must understand that we can’t read the secrets of another’s heart and we often do only judge on outward appearance. “The world is full of idolatries, but I question if any idolatry has been more extensively practiced than the idolatry of the outward appearance.” (Blaikie)

ii. It was also an exhortation to godly thinking. God told Samuel, “Your natural inclination is to only judge on outward appearance. But I can judge the heart that you can’t see. So, look to Me and don’t be so quick to judge a person only on their outward appearance.” Samuel needed to know his natural inclination to judge only on outward appearance, but he didn’t have to give in to it. He could seek the LORD and seek God’s heart and mind when looking at people.

d. The LORD has not chosen these: God told Samuel that He had not chosen any of the seven sons of Jesse attending the feast. It wasn’t that these sons of Jesse were bad men, but they were not God’s choice. God had a man in mind different from Samuel’s or Jesse’s expectation.

i. Eliab and the seven oldest sons of Jesse were perfect potential kings as far as the flesh is concerned. But God didn’t want a king after the flesh. Israel already had a king like that.

Outward Appearance!

Everywhere we go we read and judge people by their outward appearance! Will I be safe? Are they under the influence? 

But the Lord looks at the ❤️ of man!

When we believe we are are right and our heart is good, remember:

”Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.“

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Bible has a lot to say about our hearts but consider this verse!

”that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What do you believe in your ❤️ ?

Blessings