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Inside Out
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:6–7
On a number of occasions over the years people have said to me, “God looks on the heart” as a way to justify an outward appearance in their life that seems to indicate they are not going the right direction. This use of that phrase, however, stands the original context of this statement on its head.
When God rejected Saul for his disobedience, He commanded the prophet Samuel to go on a trip to the city of Bethlehem and anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the next king over Israel. When Samuel explained his mission to Jesse, the grandson of Boaz and Ruth, Jesse called all of his sons together (except for David whom he did not even consider as a possibility) for Samuel’s review. It was the impressive physical stature and outward appearance of Eliab that drew Samuel’s attention, but God was interested in the heart of the lightly-regarded David. And it was on that basis that David was chosen to be the next king of Israel.
Samuel judged that the heart of Eliab was right because the outside looked good, but God reminded him that it was what was within that truly mattered. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were masters of presenting a good outward impression, but their hearts were hardened and closed to the truth, and they refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah. No matter how good we may look on the outside, if our hearts are not right, God will not be pleased with our lives.
1 Samuel 16:6–7
On a number of occasions over the years people have said to me, “God looks on the heart” as a way to justify an outward appearance in their life that seems to indicate they are not going the right direction. This use of that phrase, however, stands the original context of this statement on its head.
When God rejected Saul for his disobedience, He commanded the prophet Samuel to go on a trip to the city of Bethlehem and anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the next king over Israel. When Samuel explained his mission to Jesse, the grandson of Boaz and Ruth, Jesse called all of his sons together (except for David whom he did not even consider as a possibility) for Samuel’s review. It was the impressive physical stature and outward appearance of Eliab that drew Samuel’s attention, but God was interested in the heart of the lightly-regarded David. And it was on that basis that David was chosen to be the next king of Israel.
Samuel judged that the heart of Eliab was right because the outside looked good, but God reminded him that it was what was within that truly mattered. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were masters of presenting a good outward impression, but their hearts were hardened and closed to the truth, and they refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah. No matter how good we may look on the outside, if our hearts are not right, God will not be pleased with our lives.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If our hearts are fully devoted to loving God as we should, our outward behavior will reflect that heart.
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