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Chapter 16 (ESV)
4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 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.”
REFLECTION:
- When Samuel was seeking to anoint the second king for Israel, he probably had the idea of finding someone who was much admired by the people with his stunning physical appearance, such as he had done with Saul. However, God clearly told him not to choose based only on the outward appearances. Appearances don’t reveal the substance of a person. God can see through a man’s heart, and understand our thoughts and motivations.
- Am I like many who put much emphasis on the outward appearance, but not enough attention to what is inside of a person? What does God see on my inside?
- It is often much easier to associate with people who are similar to me in speech, action, clothing, profession, and lifestyle. We are attracted to and get along with the people that they project themselves to be. If we simply focus on appearances, we might miss out on relationship with people who God has placed around us and with whom we can and ought to enter into deep spiritual friendship with. Will I intentionally make friends with people outside of my circle, those that are different from me? Why?
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank You for accepting me completely. You saved me despite of my most common appearances, and my often wicked and confused thoughts inside. It is Your electing grace that allows me to become Your child. May You open my inner eyes, to see others, not just their outside, but to look into their inside to truly love them as Jesus does.
HYMN:
Grace – youtu.be/WeY1VGQ6WG0
