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Answer
People tend to assess others’ character and value based on their outward appearances. If an individual is tall, attractive, well-proportioned, and stylishly dressed, they possess physical traits that are generally admired and respected by humans. These are often the physical attributes sought in a leader. However, God has the remarkable ability to see beyond outward appearances and into a person’s true nature. God discerns our genuine character because He “looks at the heart.”
In 1 Samuel 16, the moment arrived for Samuel to visit Jesse’s house in Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel. When Samuel observed Jesse’s eldest son, Eliab, he was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought, “Surely, this is the man the Lord wants me to anoint” (verse 6).
Yet, God instructed Samuel, “Do not focus on his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. God’s perspective differs from that of humans. People look at external features, but the LORD examines the heart” «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 16:7, GWT).
Saul, Israel’s initial king, was tall and handsome. Samuel might have been seeking someone similar to Saul, and Eliab’s appearance was indeed remarkable. However, God had a different individual in mind to anoint as the king of Israel. Earlier, the Lord had revealed to Samuel that He desired a man who was after God’s own heart «But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. », (1 Samuel 13:14).
Samuel evaluated all seven individuals,
Of Jesse’s older sons, but the Lord rejected them all as His choice for king. God was looking for one who had a faithful heart. David, Jesse’s youngest son, whom they had not even bothered to call, was out tending the sheep. After Samuel passed over the other sons, they sent for David, and the Lord said, “This is the one” «And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. », (1 Samuel 16:12).
David was God’s choice—imperfect but faithful, a man after God’s heart. Although the Bible says he was handsome (verse 12), David was not a striking figure. But David had developed a heart after God. In his time alone in the fields, shepherding the flocks, David had come to know God as his Shepherd (see Psalm 23).
Appearances can be deceiving. The outward appearance doesn’t reveal what people are really like. Physical looks don’t show us a person’s value or character or integrity or faithfulness to God. Outward qualities are, by definition, superficial. Moral and spiritual considerations are far more important to God.
God looks at the heart. The heart in Scripture is a person’s inner moral and spiritual life. Proverbs 4:23 explains that everything we do flows from our hearts. The heart is the core, the inner essence of who we are: “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” «A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. », (Luke 6:45).
To everyone who saw him, Judas IscariotHe looked like a faithful disciple, but his appearance was deceiving. The other disciples had no idea of what was going on inside Judas. Jesus was the only one who knew Judas’s heart: “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” «Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? », (John 6:70). God’s perspective is higher, deeper, and wiser than ours.
Second Chronicles 16:9 says the eyes of God are continually roaming throughout the earth to strengthen people whose hearts are fully committed to Him. God can peer into our hearts, examine our motivations, and know everything there is to know about us «O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. », (Psalm 139:1). God knows if a person will be faithful. God sees what people can’t see.
King David was far from perfect. He committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). But God saw in David a man of deep, abiding faith who was wholly committed to the Lord. God saw a man who would depend on the Lord for strength and guidance (1 Samuel 17:45,47;23:2). God saw a man who would recognize his sin and failure and who would repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness (2 Samuel 12). God saw in David a man who loved his Lord; a man who worshiped his Lord with all his being «And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. », (2 Samuel 6:14); a man who had experienced God’s cleansing and forgiveness (Psalm 51) and had come to understand the depths of God’s love for him (Psalm 13:5-6;106:1). God saw a man with a sincere and personal relationship with.
His Creator. When God looked at the heart of David, He saw a man after His own heart «And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. », (Acts 13:22).
Like Samuel, we can’t see what the Lord sees, and we must rely on Him for wisdom. We can trust that when God looks at our hearts, He sees our faithfulness, our true character, and our value as individuals.
