When God looks at you He does not see your height or weight or any warts or blemishes. God sees your heart and He sees you for your heart. How pure is your heart before God?
This is the story of the anointing of David, the king of Israel. The setting begins with King Saul. Saul took leadership after Samuel who was the last leader during the period of the judges.
Samuel’s children were corrupt and set off the spark that started the fire of Israel’s rebellion. They wanted a king like the other nations. God told Samuel the people have not rejected you they have rejected me.
Ultimately God would still rule as king forever, “and a king would rule forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). What kind of king did Israel go for? He was tall, dark, handsome and rich. He was a king that had everything going for him; good family and noble birth.
Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13
King Saul stepped right off the cover of Fortune Magazine. He had the distinguished look of CEO and president of a leading corporation. The problem was that Saul lacked character. Saul was void of moral integrity.
Saul had everything except the one thing that really mattered. He lacked a heart that pleases God.
1 Samuel 15:22-23
22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king.”
Now God has Samuel to anoint the next king for Israel. This time it will be God’s man. The qualifications are different. God wants a man after His own heart, moldable, breakable and useable.
God instructs Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons king of Israel. That one of Jesse’s sons would be chosen at all speaks of God’s character and God’s purpose. Jesse was the grandson of Ruth the Moabite. The Moabites were a hated and cursed people in the eyes of the Jews.
For that matter consider the great-grandmother of Jesse who was Rehab the prostitute, a Canaanite of Jericho. God’s love and plan extends to all. Those in Jesse’s family tree are ultimately in Jesus’ family tree.
Samuel goes to anoint one of Jesse’s sons. The first-born son is Eliab. He was tall and had the look of a king and the birth order in his favor. He put on his best game face to come before Samuel to be anointed as king, but Samuel let Eliab walk on by him.
Actually, Samuel was attracted to Eliab and ready to anoint him as the next king of Israel but God said it is not him. All seven of Jesse’s sons walked before Samuel and all passed on by. Samuel asked, is there not another son, an eighth son out there somewhere?
Finally, Jesse mentions young David out tending sheep. You almost think Jesse was going to send David’s sister Abigail to Samuel first. The Lord underscores His criteria in verse 7.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Man considers appearance, but God looks at the heart. God saw in David the making of a great king. God saw a young shepherd boy with a pure heart. He saw the character and moral integrity that were needed to be shepherd of God’s people.
The inner characteristics that Saul lacked were in David. This was not Israel’s choice. This was God’s man. Samuel anointed David and the Holy Spirit prepared David for the great and mighty task.
What do people see in you? Do they see an impressive appearance? Maybe not, but don’t let that get you down. What does God see? That is the important question. God is not looking at your height or your hair style. God is looking at your heart.
It is your heart that determines your usability. Maybe you are not the obvious choice for some position. The lesser known man who has the heart of God prevailed in the case of David. God’s principle remains the same.
God looks at the heart. God looked past appearance, family occupation and family background. These are not the things that matter to God. What matters to God is your heart. God not only accepts those man rejects but they go on to be God’s greatest instruments.
What keeps you from serving God? It won’t be any of the outward things. Get your heart right to be used of God. If your heart is right get ready. Fasten your seatbelt for an incredible journey with God.
