Following Saul's rejection by the Lord as king over Israel, Samuel was commanded to go to Jesse, for the Lord had provided a king for His people from among Jesse's sons. Having come to the Bethlehemite, the sons were paraded before the prophet. The first was Eliab, of whom Samuel commented, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him." (16:6) I am intrigued by, and want us to focus on the Lord's response to Samuel's judgment.

"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." (16:7)

More sons were exhibited to Samuel, Abinadab, Shammah, Shimea, Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem. Time and again, Samuel remarked, "...neither has the LORD chosen this one." One remained, the youngest, David; who was in the field keeping the sheep. David is described to us as "...ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking." Perhaps not as impressive looking as his brother Eliab, nor of the stature of Saul, who was "...from his shoulders upward...taller than any of the people..." (1 Samuel 9:2), but this David was the Lord's anointed.

David would go on to do many great things — defeating the giant Goliath, conquering various foes throughout the land to regain the lands which were promised to Israel, living an exemplary life, such that the Lord said of him, "...I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." (Acts 13:22, cf. 1 Samuel 13:14)

Let us consider some lessons regarding an "appearance".

DO NOT JUDGE ACCORDING TO APPEARANCES

Samuel saw Eliab, and was about ready to pack up and go home. Surely this was the one that the Lord had sent him to anoint, and no further investigation would be necessary. No doubt, Eliab was a strapping young man, perhaps some comparable to Saul in appearance, who Samuel had formerly anointed. But the prophet was warned not to look at the outward appearance, as is the way with man, for the Lord looks upon the heart.

Have you ever judged someone according to the outward appearance? Has someone's hair, clothing, cleanliness, accommodations, etc. caused you to prejudge? I doubt any could declare innocence from this error at some point or another. We are not commissioned to anoint a king over Israel, but we are sent as messengers of the kingdom, to preach the word of the kingdom and compel souls to come in. Any measure of prejudice is both unwelcomed and unbecoming the one with such a responsibility.

In any given day, we see people of varying wealth classes, who work diverse jobs (or some who do not), who hold themselves with a wide degree of integrity (or lack thereof). They look different, smell different, and live different. So with the measure of time and ability the Lord has supplied, who do we chose to take the gospel to? The only right answer is ALL.

There is a song we sing from time to time,
"Of one the Lord has made the race, through one has come the fall;
Where sin has gone must go His grace, the gospel is for all.

The blessed gospel is for all, the gospel is for all;
Where sin has gone must go His grace, the gospel is for all."

Every living soul we meet — whether rich or poor; perfumed or stench-covered; Country Club Drive or cardboard box — deserves to hear the saving word of God. Unfortunately, what too often takes place is we choose who should and should not hear the word of salvation. Of course, we don't word it as such. Rather, we reason, "...he wouldn't be interested...", "...she's too stuck up...", "...they're too reliant upon their own success to need God...", "...they're in an unscriptural marriage...", "...he does drugs...", etc.. Shame on us!!

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature..." (Mark 16:15) and again, "...Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." (Luke 14:23) The criteria which we should use to determine whether someone is a candidate for the gospel or not is this — is there still life? If there is life, there is hope.

Perhaps the message won't be received well. Maybe we'll be told where to go and how to get there. We might be laughed at, scoffed at, ridiculed, physically harmed, persecuted, killed... What else did you expect? Paul wrote, "...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)

When we look for reasons why the church today doesn't grow as it did in past days, we often focus on the sinfulness of our society and the various forms of entertainment and leisure activities which can catch the interest of people. We cite the myriad of religions which ‘compete' for the attention of would-be seekers. However, it appears we have conveniently shifted our focus from what may be the primary cause for slow growth (or in many cases, backwards growth). Is it possible that we spend so much time looking for the ‘perfect' contact, that we inadvertently let slip by the masses who may have sought to enter the Lord's kingdom, but did not receive opportunity due to our blindness?

The Lord asked Samuel to look at Jesse's sons as the Lord did — at the heart. You and I must do likewise, not focussing on appearances, but on souls. Each person we meet is a soul bound for eternity. We have the cure to sin in our hands. What shall we do with it?

Well worded is the song writer's message:
Swiftly we're turning life's daily pages,
Quickly the hours are changing to years;
How are we using God's golden moments?
Shall we reap glory? Shall we reap tears?

Into our hands the gospel is given,
Into our hands is given the light;
Hast let us carry God's precious message
Guiding the erring back to the right.