Friday Reading: 1 Samuel 16:7
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7
7 But Jehovah said to Samuel, Do not look on his face, nor on his height, because I have refused him. For He does not see as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.
Devotion:
Yes we have all been there; looked at something and made our mind up before we even get to know it or check it out properly! That seems to be a recurring theme in our lives... we go through life deciding what people are like by their initial appearance rather than getting to know them. If life was that easy we would be able to get along fine with the people we wanted to – but each one of us is a hidden gem to others, waiting to be exposed and then enjoyed.
The Jews, including Samuel, had looked at Saul and thought that he must be a good king because he was a large man and also comely and majestic; yet what lay underneath only exposed itself after he took office as king. God knew what he would be like but succumbed to the people so that they may learn not to judge by outward appearance because their next king was not someone who looked like he should be king! There were some sons of Jesse who looked like they should be king because of their stature, but that is not what God was guiding Samuel to pick!
David was just a shepherd boy at the time, out in the field tending to the sheep. God saw the goodness in David’s heart. He saw respect for others and a love for all. He also knew that David would have his faults just as we do, but he knew that he was the best choice for a king to lead the people in righteousness. God does not look upon us as good looking, ugly, tall, short, thin or fat; He looks on us as people who have a varying degree of love and respect for Him. He looks on us as people tending to the bodies that He has given us whilst our souls live here on earth. He looks at us from the inside out where we cannot hide anything from Him.
Points to Ponder:
Are you always honest with others?
How honest are you with God?
