Kingdom and Exile: The Lord Looks at the Heart

 

 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 We had to have Saul before we could have David.

 David wasn’t ready yet initially – According to the timeline on this website, David wasn’t even born until Saul had been in power for 12 years. God knew what kind of a king would be best for Israel, but He also knew that they would have to have their kind of king first before they could appreciate what God had for them. Sometimes our best option isn’t ready for us when we are ready for it, so we have to be patient!

 The people wanted a king like the other countries, one who was handsome and tall and strong. Samuel sought the same, both in Saul (1 Samuel 9:2) and in his successor (1 Samuel 16:6). They probably wouldn’t have even accepted David if God had brought him to them first. Not only was he young (well, technically he wasn’t even born when Saul was anointed, but I mean when David was anointed he was only about 15), but he wasn’t tall and attractive the way Saul was. But as God pointed out to Samuel, we (people) judge by outward appearance but God judges by the heart.

  We judge with our eyes, with our perception. We can’t help it, but what we can do is set it aside and ask God to guide us. My husband is waiting to hear back on a job we’d really like him to get. We’ve been waiting a week now and it seems interminable. There are several aspects of this job, most especially the potential travel benefits, that make it super attractive. But here’s what I need to keep in mind, just because something looks attractive to me doesn’t mean it is what’s best. We submitted at the beginning of this job search to God’s will and timing. We are not saying, as the Israelites did, “Give us a job like all the other people have!” No, we have been trusting in God’s provision, and if He chooses to bring His provision through a job, great, but we don’t need a job to know that God will provide for us. If this job is the best one for us, we trust that He will put it together according to His perfect timing. If it’s not, we trust that doors will close and He has something even better down the road. Who knows, maybe like David the perfect job hasn’t even become available yet!

Here's the Thing: That all sounds wonderful and faithful and profound, but the reality is we’ve been kind of sitting on pins and needles. The tension is real, and the waiting is HARD!