1 Samuel 16:7

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

A man named Jesse lived in Bethlehem with his eight sons. Jesse was a farmer and a sheep breeder. His older sons served as soldiers in Israel’s army, alongside the king. But the youngest, David, was only a shepherd and a skilled musician.

God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the future king of Israel. After the ceremonial cleansing and sacrifice with Jesse’s family, Samuel began to search for God’s chosen one. His eyes were immediately drawn to Jesse’s oldest son. Tall, strong, and already a leader in the army, the prophet assumed he must be the one. But the Lord quickly corrected him, saying, “Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I look at the heart.”

Jesse, too, likely felt disappointed. In those times, the eldest son usually carried the family’s honor, responsibility, and leadership. His eldest seemed perfectly fit to be king—with strength, skills, and military experience. Yet Samuel rejected him. One by one, Jesse presented his sons, but each time the prophet said no.

After showing all seven of his sons, each with an impressive profile, Jesse finally said to the prophet that he had no more who were qualified to be king. But Samuel was not convinced, because he knew for certain that God had sent him on this mission. He asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

Reluctantly, Jesse replied, almost as an excuse: “Yes, but he is out in the field taking care of the sheep.” The father who eagerly presented his older sons showed no enthusiasm to present David. In Jesse’s eyes, David was fit only to tend sheep and play music when needed. David did not even cross his earthly father’s mind. But God already had a rescue plan prepared, choosing the humble young shepherd boy.

While Jesse saw David as running after sheep, God was training him to fight bears and lions. While his brothers used arrows and swords in the army, God trained David to snatch lambs from the mouth of wild beasts. These were practical lessons in how to love, care for, and rescue people. His brothers were taught to dress like warriors, but David was clothed with strength from God.

The prophet was adamant to see David and even refused to eat until David was brought before him. What the earthly father failed to see, the Heavenly Father had already planned. When Samuel saw David, he anointed him, and God placed a future king on the throne.

This word encourages us today: we serve a God who sees what others fail to notice. God has a plan for you, no matter how lonely or humiliated your place may look. He is building resilience, forming strength, and preparing you in secret. Your gifts and talents may even be suppressed by your own loved ones, but God will send help—just as He sent Samuel—to reveal the identity He has marked for you.

Human effort, without a heart aligned to God’s values, will be rejected. But the Lord, honors the humble, redeems the rejected and makes the kind-hearted into a king, a leader for His glory. Just as David became king, one day you too will sit before the Lord and sing with gratitude:

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”

—2 Samuel 7:18 (NLT)

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for not seeing me the way people see me. Thank You for working in my life, even when I feel hidden or overlooked. Today I choose to trust Your plans and stand in faith, believing You are preparing me for greater things. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.