For Jehovah Seeth Not As Man Seeth

1 Samuel 16:1-13

 

Introduction   Our text is a thrilling story is it not?   You will remember that Samuel  was God's representative, but God was Israel's King.    1 Samuel Chapter Eight tells of the elders of Israel coming to Samuel in his latter days with this request:  1 Samuel 8:5     ⁵…..  “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”.

 

 This displeased the faithful prophet very much. He took the matter to Jehovah in prayer, and God answered:  Notice as we read beginning now in 1 Sam 8:7

  ⁷And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. ⁸“According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. ⁹“Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” ¹⁰So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king..

 

Thus accordingly, Saul became Israel's first king, but behaved in such a way,   God removed him from being king of His people.  It was necessary to choose a second king for God's people. Our text then is the record of that selection.  Samuel was sent by God to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel . When the sons were brought in one by one he began  to look upon their outward appearance.  But God’s words to Samuel are:  1 Sam. 16:7

”⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his 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.”.    A portion of scripture that has lived on through the ages: Then Samuel takes the horn of oil and anointed young David to be Israel's 2^nd and most beloved King.

 

 We live in a time when men like Samuel…. look the unimportant things ……   surface matters, rather than the internal, and important matters of men’s heart.   Think of man's great concern for physical excellence today in the world of Sports. There are those whose greatest virtue is: they have a quick eye and speedy reflexes.

Thus are  glorified and idolized, and paid many times the normal person, who are not as effective in hitting a baseball or shooting a basketball with great  skill.

 

Consider Hollywood, and the fabulous salaries paid because one looks good on the outside.  Many times they are not particularly good actors, but they look really good, and have become American Idols, and paid fabulously, based solely upon their great looks.

 

Christians too have a tendency to honor those who look good dress in an unusually fine manner. The person who wears the latest styles, especially expensive clothing, this is impressive.  Consider Paul’s admonition to the ladies in 1 Tim. 2:9-10

 

⁹in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

 

 God doesn't concern Himself with fine clothes, nor with latest hair fashions  or with costly array.  But with pure hearts and  good works the adornment of those professing godliness. 

 

Then today  there’s financial status we deem very important.  The man we look  to as the ideal person is the one  successful in business, one who carries the weight among his piers . The car he drives, the clothes he wears, the house he lives in, his power to write a large check.  This is the man we look to. Centuries ago, James wrote:      Read  James 2:1-9      This was a problem during the 1st century as well.                                                    

 

 Think of another area or outward circumstances, that of social position. These are very much apart of today’s civilization, and rub off on the Christianity community as well. We tend to gravitate toward those of social prominence .

 

 There are many parents who want their children to associate with children of the elite.   Some spend lavishing to send their children to schools where it is a social distinction to be enrolled.

 

Far  too often Christian parents fall into the pit of wanting their children to marry into  social prominence.  And often more emphasis given to social status, climbing the social ladder, and marrying someone from a socially prominent family then there is about learning God's will and marrying someone who is a Christian

We are a just little bit more inclined to honor those with money and social status, those who have excelled in the corporate world.  

 

Education is very important, no doubt about it, but It is not uncommon today for us to esteem and honor unduly men who are fabulously educated,  thinking less of one who doesn’t possess higher learning.    

 

 think of the Pharisees in the time of Christ.  They wore the right robes, had been trained in the best educational facilities,  many of them were wealthy. Jerusalem socialites….   But when the Lord got ready to pick a few good men  To launch a new way of life, that would save the souls of millions of men,  the elite of Jerusalem were passed by.

 

The wealthy, the socially distinct were rejected for a little band of uneducated men who were genuine in heart.  In Acts chapter four the Sanhedrin and high priest looked down on them and called them "ignorant and unlearned men." 

 

The very people chosen through the ages and used of God were those the world considers consider "ignorant and unlearned men."   ….  despised and rejected of men but chosen of God.   Please turn and read   & Hebrews 11:32-38

 

 Man looks on the Outward Appearance…. but God looks on the heart.  Too often today it is a matter of nationality , of skin color….  these are externals.   I suppose there is no race on earth today, that doesn’t basically dislike other nations. The Jews disliked, the Gentile world and visa versa.  In all these external, surface things it is easy for us to feel superior to another.

 

Notice some passages that help us understand God's position regarding the people of  all nations.   

 

¹⁶“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life..             John 3:16

 

When Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius, a   Gentile to preach God's message.  He began with these words:  Acts 10:34-35

 

³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: ³⁵But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

 

 

 

 Paul in the Roman Letter, Romans 10:12-13 wrote:

¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.    

                                 

Gal 3:26-27 states we are all one in Christ, there is no distinctions between men with God.    Still others passages could be called, but my point is: The LORD sees not as man sees;  Man looks upon outward appearance,    May God help us as we look upon others around us to recognize their worth……  namely they are made in God’s Image…. Gen 1:26  and that Christ died for them as well as for us   2 Cor 4:14

 

 Notice this passage again from our text:  1 Samuel 16:7

”⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his 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.”.

 

 Consider finally the 2^nd Part of that verse  “the Lord looks at the heart.”.   Think of the way that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. He spoke of those who will be saved in these words: First  Corinthians 1:26ff

 ²⁶For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹that no flesh should glory in His presence.

 

I remember that among Jesus' opening words in the sermon on the mount are these:   "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God "  Matthew 5:8 . And this means that you and I must carefully prepare our hearts.   

 

While education and higher standards are important, the most important thing is a person's being is his heart.  Not that muscle that pumps blood throughout our body,  but a man's mind with which he thinks.  Note the passage in Proverbs 23:7

 

⁷For as a man  thinketh in his heart, so is he

 

Jesus stated in Matthew 12:24

"…..out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

    

The heart is very important, God looks upon our hearts.  Solomon said it this way —  Proverbs 4:20-23

                   

²⁰My son, give attention to my words;  Incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹Do not let them depart from your eyes;  Keep them in the midst of your heart; ²²For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. ²³Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

 

C- And this is what we need to do..     

   

1-  There is a paperweight I have seen, 3 little monkeys

See No Evil -  Hear No Evil -  Speak No Evil

 

 

If the heart is properly guarded we certainly will speak no evil. There is no blessing  ever pronounced upon the person who has been everywhere, seen everything, and done it all.    But there are praises pronounced upon the one who has kept his heart pure and undefiled.   

 

In today's world, there are things I do not need to see, magazines I don't need to read,  Places I do not need to go,  and associations I ought not have fellowship with. 

 

Proverbs 4:23

 ²³Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

 

1-     But how do we accomplish this in today’s world?   Philippians 4:8  this advice

⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

 

The last word that I would leave you this evening is: Matt. 5:8

             "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God "    

 

Out of pure hearts come loving obedience and service to God.   Someday when the pure in heart stand before God, they will hear these words:  "enter into the joys of the Lord"

 

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart,  so let us guard our hearts and keep them pure. Pure hearts that enjoy the fellowship with God are those that have been purified by obedience  to God’s will

 

&  1 Peter 1:22-25