God looks at the Heart

Man looks at outward appearance.

(The story of Samuel is found in the Bible in 1 Samuel 16-31.)

This society looks at how eloquent you are and how you present yourself as a person but God looks at our hearts when he chooses an individual. He looks beyond the surface to who we really are on the inside.

History has demonstrated that God chose the most unlikely people to serve him. There were people who were rejected by Missionary Organizations but God used them. The person who comes to my mind is Amy Carmichael an Irish missionary who served in India and saved the lives of many children. She was rejected by a major missionary organization. We should take courage from this that God is never wrong and uses unlikely people.

When God called Moses, he was very reluctant to answer God’s calling. Moses said to God, “Don’t choose me I am slow of speech.” God didn’t let that come in the way of his selection of Moses.

God said to Moses, “Your brother Aarron can speak on your behalf.” It suggests Moses didn’t have the confidence to speak and he didn’t want what God was asking him to do. God doesn’t go by how confident people feel, but by His strength and power.

The best selection process was God’s selection of David the shepherd boy to be the next King of Israel. God had rejected Saul as future King of Israel. Samuel the prophet was grieving over the loss of Saul as King of Israel.

God said to Samuel, “Stop grieving I have chosen a New King.” God said to Samuel, “I want you to go and anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next King of Israel.” Samuel said, “Saul will kill me if he finds out I am going to anoint another King”.

The Lord said, “Take a heifer and say I have come to sacrifice to the Lord – Invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice and I will show you who I have chosen as the next King.” Samuel agreed to do this.

When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem the city was trembling with fear and greeted him. Samuel said, “May peace be with you. Greetings, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord”. In those days there were such fear amongst the people when a man of God arrived in their city. Today we don’t have the same respect for the men and women of God. The reverence for God is missing. It is a very sad reality.

Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to offer sacrifices to the Lord. When he saw Eliab who was tall and handsome, he thought to himself, he must be the one elected by God. But the Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at the outside appearance or how tall he is because I have rejected him”.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and brought him to Samuel but the Lord said, “I have not chosen him either”. Then Jesse called Shammah to Samuel but the Lord had not chosen him either. Jesse brought all his sons to Samuel but the Lord had not chosen any of them.

Samuel asked, “Jessie, do you have any more sons?” “There is still the youngest son- his name is David- but he is out tending the sheep”, replied Jessie.

“Call him,” Samuel replied. David arrived – he had a fine appearance and was in good health. Lord said to Samuel, “He is the one I have chosen.” Samual took some oil out of his bag and anointed him as the next king of Israel in front of his family.

A little shepherd boy became the next King of Israel. It is interesting how Samuel the great man of God got it wrong. It appears he didn’t realize that God doesn’t go by the appearance but by the heart of the person. It is a big lesson to us all as we often go by the appearance of the person rather than their heart.

David was a humble boy who was out tending to his sheep. He reflected the heart of God because he defended his sheep from wild animals in the wilderness. He would risk his life for the sheep. David was a leader.

Today we need leaders like David who are prepared to risk their lives for the people – Leaders who care for the people.

Dear God

Please give me a heart like yours

A heart that is clean and free from sin.

A heart that pleases you.

Amen.

By harbajan (servant of Jesus)

27 May 2026.