“When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought,
‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel,
‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have
rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel
16:6-7, ESV)
Have you heard the saying “perception is reality”? I used to
believe that but praise God, He has taught me otherwise. All throughout the
Bible we are taught that God does not see the same way that we do.
In 1 Samuel, the king Saul has lost the favor and spirit of the Lord our
God because of his disobedience and his lack of repentance in his heart. God
instructs Samuel the prophet to go to Bethlehem and seek a son of Jesse there.
Samuel does not know his name. He has all of Jesse’s sons brought before him as
the Lord directs him in which God will anoint as King of Israel. Today’s
passage picks up the story when Samuel is looking on the sons of Jesse.
“When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought,
‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel,
‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have
rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7, ESV)
Notice even a man who knew God so well he was called to be a prophet for
Him, did not see as the Lord saw. Samuel saw the first son, Eliab, and saw he
was strong, tall, and fit to be anointed as king. God on the other hand saw the
hearts of all the sons of Jesse, and it was the smallest one that God choose to
be the king if Israel.
We often judge ourselves, or judge others by our own sight. We assign value
by size and stature, education and experience, by job or financial status. We
also tend to judge by past sins. It is in our human nature to classify
and make order of things. Take a good look at David and you will see, that the
only thing that made him a great leader, warrior, and king was his heart for
God. Even in David’s darkest hour of sin, his heart was full of repentance.
David found his way back to God and found forgiveness from God.
As you step out into the world today ask yourself, “Do I see
things from my point of view?” Do you judge by the standards you have
been taught or do you turn to God, and seek understanding from Him? Do you see
with your eyes, or with God’s eyes?
Father, Help me to see as You see. Teach me to
judge slowly and offer grace quickly. Remind me of how much I have been
forgiven so that I will rush to forgive others. Amen
Question: Why is it so easy to rely on our own judgment? How do you learn to
see as God sees?
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