When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.” 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.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
(1 Samuel 16:6-10 ESV)
Samuel had been despondent after Saul's failure as king. But God had promised a new king, qualified and hopeful. But Samuel also did not want to be part of another failure - he had anointed Saul, and look how that turned out! Each of the brothers had good qualities; each had names that described godly character. But Samuel could not see what God saw - the heart. The only question that mattered was this: "Is the heart of this man the same as the heart of God?" That is not something so easily perceived. Thought processes, motives and desires can be seen through careful observation, but we are often too impatient to do so. Don't jump to conclusions on first sight. Patiently listen to God. Be persistent. Be a person of His Word, and you will hear Him speak, and see what He sees.
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