In the bible God expected his people to obey him and follow all of his laws and commandments, so that they would succeed in his purpose. God ordered Samuel that he needed to appoint a king of Israel among Jesse’s children. The Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outside of a person. But the Lord looks at what is in the heart.”
The NIV bible says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In Hebrew, outer appearance is ayin (עַיִן). It originally means eyes. This includes everything we see with our physical eyes such as outward appearance; figures, wealth, positions etc. Heart in Hebrew is lebab (לֵבָב). It does not mean physical heart. It includes things we see with our spiritual eyes including our inner heart; character, gift, and so on. Our God is more concerned about our inner heart than outward appearance.
The disciple Paul said that our salvation was not from our appearances and positions. 1 Corinthians 1:26 says, “think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.” God chose his people not by human standards, the outer appearance, but by God standard, their inner hearts. Among the children of Jesse, God chose David as king over Israel. He was the youngest of Jesse. In his peoples’ eyes, he would be considered the least in his household. In God’s eyes, he had greatness and was the right person and so was chosen to be king.
The younger son of Jesse David was anointed with oil and became king over Israel at an early age, but he was not recognized as king by the people and his life had been very hard and he had struggled. However, he had trusted in God and devoted himself to God at all times. God had a purpose for him. As believers of Christ, we also might endure hardships such as young David did, but we can be sure that we can depend upon God wherever we go and whatever we do. Because our Lord has his plans for us and he wants us to accomplish his works.
In a later passage in the bible, we are told that although God cared for the people of Israel, they were terrified to fight against the Philistines. Right at that time, David was anointed by God and came forward to stand before the mighty God. David was the only one, who believed that the mighty God was with him and would defeat the Philistines. David relied on God and God helped him to succeed in the battle.
But we can learn from David that things that we cannot overcome with our own strengths. We can do the help of God. David understood that God controlled everything in this world and he needed to depend upon God in every circumstance. David defeated Goliath and the Philistines, because God was with him. God helped David to succeed in this world.
Our God blesses his people, but the most important thing for the people of God is to obey God and keep his word no matter what happens. God was pleased with King David. The book of Acts 13:22 says, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do (NIV).” God was with David at all times and many years later God sent Jesus, the descendant of David, to save his people from their sins. Many believers of God have been saved since then. As we know, David obeyed God and followed the law of God. God blessed him and his descendants.
Remember that God looks at our inner heart rather than outward appearance. We are commanded to do our own best to obey God and follow the word of God with our lives. We need to depend upon God’s word and to pray. May God bless you and your lives and your ministries.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook
The disciple Paul said that our salvation was not from our appearances and positions. 1 Corinthians 1:26 says, “think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.” God chose his people not by human standards, the outer appearance, but by God standard, their inner hearts. Among the children of Jesse, God chose David as king over Israel. He was the youngest of Jesse. In his peoples’ eyes, he would be considered the least in his household. In God’s eyes, he had greatness and was the right person and so was chosen to be king.
The younger son of Jesse David was anointed with oil and became king over Israel at an early age, but he was not recognized as king by the people and his life had been very hard and he had struggled. However, he had trusted in God and devoted himself to God at all times. God had a purpose for him. As believers of Christ, we also might endure hardships such as young David did, but we can be sure that we can depend upon God wherever we go and whatever we do. Because our Lord has his plans for us and he wants us to accomplish his works.
In a later passage in the bible, we are told that although God cared for the people of Israel, they were terrified to fight against the Philistines. Right at that time, David was anointed by God and came forward to stand before the mighty God. David was the only one, who believed that the mighty God was with him and would defeat the Philistines. David relied on God and God helped him to succeed in the battle.
But we can learn from David that things that we cannot overcome with our own strengths. We can do the help of God. David understood that God controlled everything in this world and he needed to depend upon God in every circumstance. David defeated Goliath and the Philistines, because God was with him. God helped David to succeed in this world.
Our God blesses his people, but the most important thing for the people of God is to obey God and keep his word no matter what happens. God was pleased with King David. The book of Acts 13:22 says, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do (NIV).” God was with David at all times and many years later God sent Jesus, the descendant of David, to save his people from their sins. Many believers of God have been saved since then. As we know, David obeyed God and followed the law of God. God blessed him and his descendants.
Remember that God looks at our inner heart rather than outward appearance. We are commanded to do our own best to obey God and follow the word of God with our lives. We need to depend upon God’s word and to pray. May God bless you and your lives and your ministries.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook