In one of today’s readings, Samuel sets out to anoint a new king for Israel.  Ought to be an easy enough job.

After all, everyone knows what a king should look like. Everyone knows what a king should be like. Should be a very, very easy job.  Samuel is led by the spirit to Bethlehem, to Jessie. And, one of Jessie’s sons will be the new king of Israel.

And, they each come out. All are good-looking, tall, ideal looking kings.

Only one problem.  God has not picked any of them to be king. This bothers Samuel. Shouldn’t one of these have been king?  Don’t they fit the part?

And the Lord responds to Samuel’s doubts here in 1 Samuel 16:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The Lord looks at the heart. We look at the outside. We think we can judge people base off how they look. What they wear.  Their appearance.

God says, no, that’s the important thing. That’s not what matters.  What matters is what’s inside. What matters is what is in the heart. What matters is not what you think is most important.

Today, as we live our lives, will take this lesson for ourselves?

Today, will we judge folks based on the outside?  Or will we look deeper? Will we see the heart?  Will we see what really matters? Will will see what is most important.

God doesn’t judge based off appearance.  He looks at the heart.

May we not judge folks off the outward. May we look first to in the inward. And may we remember what is more important.