Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:28:27 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (June 4); BP: I Sam. 16:1-13; RBTTY: Jn. 14; II Chron. 21-22
June 4 “What God’s Looking For”
“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 sees not as
man sees—for man looks on the outward appearance—but the Lord looks on the
heart.”
I Samuel 16:7
His criteria is far different than ours.
Who of us at one time or another has not had to put together a resume
to go along with a job application? It’s time-consuming and we find it
difficult to summarize our education and experience in such succinct
fashion—especially if it’s small in comparison to others’!
Such is the nature of pride and the eye of flesh. We’re so vain and
cherish one’s achievements more than their anointing. Likewise, nowadays
bosses are more apt to hire someone who’s young and athletic-looking
(lean-and-mean) than someone who’s middle-aged, graying and bulging around
the middle.
However, today’s Manna should give hope to anyone who’s not likely to
make someone’s “Best-Dressed” or “Most Likely to Succeed” list. Simply put,
as God told Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your
ways My ways” (Is. 55:8).
Such was certainly the case in today’s Manna as Samuel sought God’s
successor to King Saul. The Scriptures tell us that Israel’s first king was
“a choice young man (Heb. ‘bachar’—‘excellent, acceptable, etc.’) and a
goodly one (Heb. ‘towb’—‘beautiful, best, prosperous, fine, etc.’). And
there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he. From
the shoulders and upward he was taller than any of his people” (1 Sam. 9:2).
Do you get the picture?
In essence, Saul was “tall, dark and handsome.” He may not have been
of NBA height, but his “taller-than-average” stature and Hollywood features
certainly made him stand out in a crowd. No wonder he was chosen as king by
those who “wanted to be like all the nations” (I Sam. 8:19-20). The “lust
of the eyes” (I Jn. 2:16) is always blind to the favor of God.
Does this mean that David was just the opposite—i.e., quite plain and
unattractive? No, we’re told he was “ruddy (Heb. ‘admowniy’—‘reddish
complexion, flush, rosy, etc.’), of a beautiful (Heb. ‘yapheh’—‘comely,
fair, pleasant, bright, etc.’) countenance and goodly to look at” (I Sam.
16:12). Simply put, he was also a handsome young man, whose years of
tending sheep had given him an outsdoorsman-type look.
But that’s not what caught God’s eye. It was David’s heart. During
those many hours of sheepherding, this one, who spent much time in quiet
contemplation and prayer, became “a man after God’s own heart” (I Sam.
13:14). His many psalms reveal a real depth of communion with the true and
living God. That’s the same kind of person He’s looking for today. The
question is: “Am I one?”
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