1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him… I. THE DIVINE SUPERIORITY TO HUMAN PREJUDICES. The prophet was misled by a mere prejudice. Very frequently the outside show, the mere accidental circumstances of personal appearance, wealth, or position, are taken as criteria of worth. Now we may observe respecting such modes of estimation: — 1. That the standard is obviously false. 2. It is one of which many take advantage. Many avail themselves of this common prejudice for purposes of the darkest villany. It is the convenient cloak of the base and the hypocritical. 3. It is often the cause of great wrong. Much injustice is perpetrated through the force of this prejudice. The wicked are justified while the righteous are condemned. II. THE CERTAINTY OF THE RIGHT-HEARTED BEING PREFERRED. Those whose hearts are right with God may be contemned by the world, but they may be sure of approval in His sight "who looketh on the heart." That such will ever be the ease may be argued: — 1. From universal conviction. False as are the principles on which men choose to act, their convictions are generally on the side of the right. The common conscience of humanity testifies to the worth of right-heartedness. 2. From the voice of revelation. The Bible is decisive in its assertion of this principle. It pronounces as with a voice of thunder, its indignant repudiation of the prejudice by which human conduct is governed, and maintains the opposite as the eternal rule of Divine preference. 3. From their own consciousness. The. wrong-hearted are self-condemned, while those whose hearts are right with God enjoy a cheering consciousness of His approbation. III. THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDING TO HEART CULTURE. It is of vital importance to have the heart made and kept right with God. How is this to be secured? 1. It can be attained only through Christ. The heart will never be right with God till it is made so through the redemptive work of Christ. 2. It requires the operation of the Holy Spirit. To obtain such views of "the truth as it is in Jesus," and such signify for it, as shall issue in the rectification of the heart God-ward, there must be the cooperation of the Spirit. 3. It demands the most strenuous efforts. The most strenuous efforts, on the part of man, are required to become and continue right-hearted. Learn — (1) To value men as God values them. (2) To consider the question, is thy heart right with God? (3) To give greater attention to the culture of the heart. (S. A. Browning.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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 seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. |
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