When I was a child I used to enjoy watching beauty contests on TV, such as the Miss America contest and the Miss Universe contest. I loved to see those beautiful young women, especially in their evening gowns. However, as I grew older, I came to see that not all beautiful people, men or women, are beautiful on the inside, where it counts. One can be the most beautiful woman in the world, or as handsome as a movie star, but have the nastiest personality around. They can sometimes be mean and hurtful people, abusive to their family, whereas someone who is homely and not much to look at, can sometimes have the nicest personality, and be the best friend or spouse one could want. In our Scripture for today we will look at the problem of judging by outward appearances.
Earlier in the book of I Samuel, we read about how the nation of Israel wanted a king so that they could be like other nations. Saul, who was tall and handsome, was chosen. However, despite his being extremely good looking, his character was lacking, and he was disobedient to the Lord. The prophet Samuel, who had spent many years trying to mentor King Saul, and encouraging him to be obedient and follow the Lord, was grieving that God had now rejected him as king (vs. 1). Instead, God sent Samuel to anoint someone whom He had chosen. The people had chosen before, someone who looked good on the throne, but was a loser. This time God would make the decision.
The Lord sent Samuel to the town of Bethlehem where the family of Jesse lived. It was from his family, one of his numerous sons, that the next king would come from. The prophet was afraid to go through with this task, as Saul had grown to be a very jealous and suspicious king, and would likely kill Samuel if he knew what he was up to (vs. 2-3). The Lord told him to answer, if asked, that he was there to offer a sacrifice. God never asks His servants to act foolishly. He provides wisdom for obedience.
Samuel’s arrival caused fear (vs. 4-5). He was God’s prophet, and his presence often meant judgment. A holy life and faithful ministry can create a weighty reputation. Samuel’s integrity was known by the people. When he arrived at Jesse’s house, he told Jesse to gather all of his sons together for the sacrifice. Jesse gathered all but his youngest son, David, leaving him behind in the fields with the sheep.
When the oldest son, Eliab, was presented Samuel thought that this one was surely the man that God would pick, as he was a very handsome young man. However, God warned Samuel to not judge on outward appearances. That was what had been the problem with Saul. God said that He had refused Eliab, as rather than looking at outward appearances, He looks at a person’s heart (vs. 7). When we go to judge or critique a person we must not judge externals, like wealth, popularity, looks, or position. Eliab did not have a loving or charitable heart, as we see later when David was sent to bring provisions to his brother in the army camp. Eliab acted nastily to David for no reason (I Samuel 17:28).
God checks our heart and our motives. Wrong motives will not please Him. We can fool men, who look at the outward demonstrations. God knows the truth of what’s in our heart. Our heart attitude should be to please God, not ourselves, and to give Him pleasure. He is pleased when our motives and hearts are selfless instead of selfish. God’s choices are based on His perfect knowledge, not human criteria. Outward qualifications, such as appearance, charisma, or stature, are not what He values. God sees the heart, our character, humility, faith, and obedience. We need to learn to evaluate others by spiritual character, not worldly metrics.
When Samuel got to the end of the line and knew that God hadn’t chosen any of them, he questioned Jesse whether these were all of his sons, as he had asked for (vs 8-11). Why had Jesse neglected to bring David to the sacrifice and feast? We don’t really know why his father slighted him. However the one that Jesse didn’t even consider was the one God had chosen. The one that the family had forgotten, God declared was His chosen, the one Samuel was to anoint (vs. 12). God’s calling is sovereign and unmistakable.
Samuel anointed David in the presence of his father and brothers, and the Holy Spirit came upon him from that day forward (vs. 13). David’s anointing foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah. When God calls us, He equips us. His Spirit empowers His servants for their appointed work.
God chooses whom He wills, and it is often contrary to human expectations. Where we value how pretty or handsome someone is, or their witty comments, their bank account, or university degrees, God values humility, faith, obedience, and integrity. We should be like that, as well, looking for someone with a heart that pleases God, someone who is faithful to His Word, the Bible. God often works through unexpected people.
Beautiful, handsome or homely we are all an Image of God !
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