Heart of the Matter

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (NASB)

Because Saul, Israel’s first king, had openly defied God’s commands, the LORD told Samuel to anoint a new king for His people and this new king was to be chosen from the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem. Like most humans, when Samuel saw the first of Jesse’s sons Eliab, he looked at Eliab’s appearance and thought that this must be God’s choice, but the LORD told him different. Samuel had to go through all of Jesse’s sons in order to find God’s choice for Israel’s next king. God knew that Jesse’s youngest son David was the right choice, because He knows each of us perfectly, both inside and out (Psalm 139:13-14).
God not only created us as physical beings, but because He breathed His breath of life into us (Genesis 2:7), we have a spiritual life as well. And it is because of this single act of love and compassion that we cannot hide anything from the LORD our God. He knows us far better than we know ourselves; He knows what is in our hearts and minds. Our God is so much more than an all powerful, all knowing God; He is also all loving and all caring and takes a personal interest in each of our individual lives.
Are we not all guilty of judging a person by their appearance before we have the opportunity of getting to know them? How blessed we are that God is not like us (Isaiah 55:9), for if He were, most of us would never have the gracious opportunity of drawing close to the LORD our God and find the new life in Christ Jesus that He desires for all His created peoples.

A Whisper of Hope
Come to Me…the One who knows you completely. I know you inside and out, and therefore, I know just what you need when you need it. I know when you are lost and confused and longing for answers that you so desperately need. I know when you are sad and lonely and long for the comfort that only I can give that will render unto you, a peace unlike any other. And whenever you choose to completely surrender your life and allow Me to do what you cannot do for yourself, I will transform you in ways that will give you honor and proclaim My Glory.

Psalm 139:13-14
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works.
And my soul knows it very well. (NASB)

Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living being. (NASB)

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. (NASB)