2023_07_10 Insight Post- Kim Feld

In last week’s reading, we looked at how Saul became the first king of Israel. As I read, I was struck by how much Saul “looked the part” of a king. In 1 Samuel 9, the text tells us that Saul was very tall and “the most handsome man in Israel” (NLT). Yet, in chapter 10, we read that when Samuel looked for Saul to announce that he would be Israel’s first king, Saul was found hiding among the baggage. (It’s interesting to note that God told Samuel where to find Saul in his hidden spot.) Over time, Saul disobeyed God and was to be removed as king, which brings us up to this week’s reading beginning with 1 Samuel 16.

God tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul as king and has chosen another. God sends Samuel to Jesse, the father of God’s newly chosen king for Israel. Samuel seems to assume that God will choose a man who “looks the part.” Take a look at what happens:

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” (1 Samuel 16:6-7, NLT).

The text doesn’t describe Eliab physically, but based on what Samuel thought when he saw him, I assume he was physically striking, like Saul. David is Jesse’s youngest son and the one that God tells Samuel to anoint. Let’s take a look at what the text says about David in 1 Samuel 16:12, NLT:

¹² So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

David is also described as handsome, but in verse 7, God tells Samuel that He is more concerned with what a person looks like inside than outside. David does not become king until Saul’s death, and there’s much that happens in between, but the point I would like to focus on today is what God values versus what the world values.

Appearances can be deceiving. This is especially true when it comes to behavior. Have you ever known someone who acted one way around certain people but a different way around others? That can occur when the outward appearance and heart are not in sync. We may be able to fool others, but we can never fool God. He knows who we are in the deepest places of our hearts and soul. Take a look at what Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) says:

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

This is both humbling and sobering. I’m humbled that the Creator of the Universe would want to know all about me, and I’m sobered by what’s there for Him to find. And yet, in the midst, there’s grace and mercy when I turn over those areas that s  till need His forgiveness and healing.

I hope you will join me in asking yourself some questions this week as we continue reading: What does God see when He looks at my heart? Am I consistent in the way I behave and interact with others? What causes my inconsistency?

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach