I Samuel 16:7 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.
Yesterday my wife and I began planting our summer garden. My job was to pull out rocks. Now, in Illinois the cash crop is corn, but in Tennessee the cash crop is rocks, at least in this part of the state. There are a lot of rocks! As we were digging out rocks and planting seeds, my wife said, “Back where I was from in the Midwest, the ground is like cocoa power. You just put a spade in and the dirt turns over beautifully.” That is true. In my part of Tennessee it is a lot of clay and rock. So, we put the exact same seeds in the ground in the Midwest and in Tennessee, and while you have the same seed, the way those seeds grow may be different because of what is in the ground, the kind of soil you have.
In I Samuel 16 we have the story of the soil of a man’s heart. His name was David, and God through Samuel was going to anoint him to be the king over His people to replace Saul. God had said previously that He was seeking for a man who was after His own heart. Then, as Samuel was desiring to anoint one of David’s brothers, God said to 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.”
As David was just a young man at this time, it would have been hard to see a king in David, but God did. What God saw was not just the abilities that He had put in David’s heart; He saw the character that David himself was developing. David was far from perfect, but God was seeking a man who had a heart after God. God knows what there is to work with.
There were a couple different reactions toward this young David from people who did not know what was there in David’s heart. One reaction came from his father Jesse. Jesse was dismissive. When you don’t know what is in someone’s heart, don’t be dismissive. Jesse seems to have thought that any of his sons would have been a better candidate to be the king than David.
When Samuel had finished looking over the sons Jesse had brought before him, Samuel basically said, “Is there not anyone else?” Jesse seemed reluctant to bring David before Samuel, saying that he was the youngest. Often, we look at people and do not see what God is working with. We see their youth, inexperience, or inability, and we don’t know that God is working with someone who has a heart for Him and a character which will develop the gifts that God has given to that person. So, don’t be dismissive.
Secondly, don’t be certain. Later, when David took food to his brothers who were fighting against the Philistines, one of his brothers said, “Why are you here?” He then answered his own question and said, “I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” His brother seemed to think that he knew what is in David’s heart, but he did not know what was in David’s heart.
It is easy for us to be certain and think, “They will never amount to anything.” But when someone has a heart for God and makes the right decisions, that can develop into good habits and good character. God knows what there is to work with.
Finally, don’t be jealous. Saul became very jealous of David and it ruined Saul. It is pointless to be jealous against others when God knows what there is to work with. God gives the gifts, and while I can’t change my height or the circumstances of my day, I can choose the decisions I make.
Untested character is not worth much. It is easy for us to think, “That person will never amount to anything.” Or, you may think, “They are a great person!” But if they have never been tested, then you don’t know what that person will be like.
When it comes to other people and yourself, just remember that God knows what there is to work with. Don’t be dismissive. Don’t be certain. Don’t be jealous. Regarding yourself, ask God to help you make the right decisions every day. Cultivate the right habits and develop character in which God can grow good things in your life.