God's Point of View

For The Lord doesn't look at things the way humans do. Humans look

on the outside at how things appear.

The Lord looks at the heart. 

1 Samuel 16:7

In the Old Testament, back when Samuel was looking to anoint a new Israeli King, he got one of the biggest surprises of his life. The old King, Saul, was one handsome dude who was head and shoulders over his peers. And for all intents and purposes, he outwardly appeared Kingly in every way possible. He was tall, rock star handsome, broad in the shoulders and narrow in the waist.  He looked like a real warrior who had bulging biceps, tripling triceps, pulsating pectorals and lean loaded latissimus dorsi. He could have easily competed with the athletes of his day. In the 21st century, he could have competed with the best known body builders.  In every outward way he appeared to be the best man for the job; however, he was a dismal failure as a King.

So, what was Samuel's surprise?  Well he was having difficulty finding God's anointed, or the one God wanted appointed as the new King.  He went to the correct house -- or should I say tent or tents -- trying to find just the right one.  He went, as directed by God, to Jesse's clan.  One by one, he examined the sons, and one by one, God told him each one was not THE ONE.  It was kind of frustrating to say the least. Finally old Samuel asked, "Isn't there another?"  This  caught the others, including Jesse, off guard; after all the only one left was the baby brother.  He was not tall.  He was ruddy.  That is his skin was red from being outside taking care of the sheep.  He looked outwardly N-O-T-H-I-N-G like Kingly material.  He was actually kind of small.  Later, when David went against Goliath, Saul, the King whom David would replace later, wanted David to wear his armor.  But it swamped him, and it was just too heavy for little David to wear. So when Samuel saw the red face, short, skinny boy named David, he was surprised.  

However, his surprise subsided when he realized his viewpoint was out of line with the Creators perception.  We are similar in our culture today: We look for the Barbie Doll girl. If you don't think so? Just look at the female newscasters. Look at the men.  Check out the leading men or leading women in the movies.  Check out the popular kids at school and even at work ... unless the boss has power. Yet, if we look merely on the surface in making our determination about people, we just might miss out on God's anointed. We might even overlook ourselves whom God is calling.

Don't sell yourself "short," either ... no pun intended. If you are not one of those who appear outwardly to be a cut above everyone else. You just might be exactly the best one for what God is calling.  Let yourself be known  from the inside out, and get to know others for whom they are inside and not what they look like on the outside. God does extraordinary things in simply ordinary people like you and me; and He will empower us to be far more than we can imagine if we, like David, are persons after God's own heart. 

SoJourner