Are you feeling overwhelmed by guilt? Let’s work through it together.
“When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7, ESV)
Have you heard the saying “perception is reality”? I used to believe that but praise God, He has taught me otherwise. All throughout the Bible we are taught that God does not see the same way that we do.
In 1 Samuel, the king Saul has lost the favor and spirit of the Lord our God because of his disobedience and his lack of repentance in his heart. God instructs Samuel the prophet to go to Bethlehem and seek a son of Jesse there. Samuel does not know his name. He has all of Jesse’s sons brought before him as the Lord directs him in which God will anoint as King of Israel. Today’s passage picks up the story when Samuel is looking on the sons of Jesse.
“When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7, ESV)
Notice even a man who knew God so well he was called to be a prophet for Him, did not see as the Lord saw. Samuel saw the first son, Eliab, and saw he was strong, tall, and fit to be anointed as king. God on the other hand saw the hearts of all the sons of Jesse, and it was the smallest one that God choose to be the king if Israel.
We often judge ourselves, or judge others by our own sight. We assign value by size and stature, education and experience, by job or financial status. We also tend to judge by past sins. It is in our human nature to classify and make order of things. Take a good look at David and you will see, that the only thing that made him a great leader, warrior, and king was his heart for God. Even in David’s darkest hour of sin, his heart was full of repentance. David found his way back to God and found forgiveness from God.
As you step out into the world today ask yourself, “Do I see things from my point of view?” Do you judge by the standards you have been taught or do you turn to God, and seek understanding from Him? Do you see with your eyes, or with God’s eyes?
Father, Help me to see as You see. Teach me to judge slowly and offer grace quickly. Remind me of how much I have been forgiven so that I will rush to forgive others. Amen
Question: Why is it so easy to rely on our own judgment? How do you learn to see as God sees?
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