God Knows the Heart!

MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTSIDE! GOD LOOKS ON THE INSIDE!

“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

This happened after King Saul had rebelled against God, and God rejected him as king.

The Lord sent Samuel, the prophet, off to Jesse’s place to anoint the new king whom God had chosen from Jesse’s sons. So Jesse got all his boys together, but one, and had them line up before Samuel.

When Eliab stood before him, Samuel thought to himself, “Hey, this is a fine, young handsome man. Surely this is the NEXT king!!”

But God said, “NO!!!”

However, it ended up, that the youngest, David, was the one God had chosen. He was not in the line-up, but was out with the sheep. So after God had rejected all the other boys, they went and fetched David. Then God affirmed that he was the ONE, so Samuel anointed him, “and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” (v.13)

So we have to remember that things are not always as they seem. The understanding, even of the godly, is limited. But God sees through all that, and looks straight at the heart.

Here’s some more Scriptures that you might like to study. (All references are from the New King James Version.)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 55:

Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. (2 Corinthians 10:7) …

Hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men), that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers. (1 Kings 8:39-40)

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:9-10)

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:1-2)

Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. (Proverbs 15:11)

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. (Proverbs 16:2)

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You. (Jeremiah 20:11-12)

And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” (Acts 1:24-25)

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

Here’s some more references you might like to look up: 1 Chronicles 29:16-20; 2 Chronciles 6:28-31; Nehemiah 9:9-10; Job 12:13,16,22; 21:22; 24:22-24; 34:21-22,25; Psalm 1:6; 11:4-5; 33:13-15; 37:18; 44:20-22; 92:5; 94:7-11; Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; 24:11-12; Isa 37:28-29; 66:18.