Looks Can Be Deceiving

1 Samuel 16:5-12

5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”

Let us pray…

This morning I would like to speak on the subject “Looks Can Be Deceiving”

Introduction

In the text we see Samuel, a prophet of God, being sent on a mission to anoint the next king of Israel. He arrives at the house of Jesse, expecting to find the chosen one among his sons. Samuel, like many of us, had certain expectations. He was looking for someone who appeared kingly, someone who had the physical stature and the commanding presence of a leader. When Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, was presented to him, Samuel thought he had found the one because of how he looked. Eliab was probably tall, strong, and handsome - all the qualities that one would expect in a king, he looked like a king, but “Looks Can Be Deceiving”.

God, had different standards. He told Samuel not to consider Eliab, saying, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because even though he looks like a king and walks like a king and carries himself like a king, I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as man see; they man says if it looks good it must be good, but the Lord looks on the heart." This is a powerful reminder that God's standards are not the same as ours. He doesn't care about physical appearances or worldly achievements. He cares about the heart.

A Heart of God’s Standard

So, what does it mean to have a heart that meets God's standards? First, it means having a humble heart. In the eyes of the world, humility is often seen as a weakness. But in God's eyes, it is a strength. The humble heart acknowledges its need for God and recognizes its limitations and there are no limits to God. The humble heart is open to God's guidance and correction.

Second, having a heart that meets God's standards means having an obedient heart. Obedience is not about blindly following rules or regulations. It's about aligning our will with God's will. It's about choosing to follow God's commandments, not because we have to, but because we want to. It's about recognizing that God's ways are higher than our ways, and that His plans are always for our good.

Third, a heart that meets God's standards is a heart that is loving. Love is at the core of God's character. He is love. And He calls us to love as well. But this is not the kind of love that is often portrayed in movies or songs. It's not a love that is based on feelings or emotions. It's a love that is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. It's a love that seeks the best for others, even at the cost of personal comfort or convenience.

Finally, a heart that meets God's standards is a heart that is faithful. Faithfulness is about consistency. It's about being the same person in private as you are in public. It's about staying true to your commitments, even when it's hard. It's about trusting God, even when you don't understand His ways.

In the end, it was David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, who was chosen to be king. David was not the obvious choice. He was just a shepherd boy, not a warrior or a leader. But he had a heart that met God's standards. He was humble, obedient, loving, and faithful. And because of that, he was chosen to be king.

Dismantling Worldly Judgments

The world's judgments are often based on outward appearances. We see this in the way Jesse presents his sons to Samuel. The eldest son is presented first, presumably because he is the most impressive in terms of physical stature and age. This is a clear reflection of the world's standards, which often prioritize physical attractiveness, how you talk, who you know and the status you hold. But God rejects him, indicating that these worldly standards are not His standards.

The same pattern repeats with Jesse's other sons. Each one is presented to Samuel, and each one is rejected by God. It is only when the youngest son, David, is brought before Samuel that God indicates His approval. David, who was out tending the sheep and was not even considered worthy of being presented to Samuel initially, is the one God chooses.

Heartfelt Holiness

As we turn our attention to the idea of Heartfelt Holiness, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a transformative understanding. This understanding is anchored in the recognition of God's unique criteria for choosing. It's not about the accolades we have amassed or the wealth we have accumulated. Rather, it's about the condition of our hearts.

An aspect to consider is the importance of sincerity in our pursuit of holiness. God's criteria for choosing are not based on superficial or external factors. Instead, He looks for sincerity and authenticity in our hearts. This sincerity is not a passive attribute but an active pursuit. It's about being genuine in our love for God and for others. It's about living out our faith in a way that reflects the love and grace of God.

Research supports this idea, suggesting that sincerity in religious practice can lead to greater spiritual fulfillment. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals who were sincere in their religious practices reported higher levels of spiritual well-being. This suggests that sincerity in our pursuit of holiness can lead to a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with God.