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Appearance
WHAT THE LORD SEES
Then it came about when they entered, that he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -- 1 Samuel 16:6-7
Looking for a successor to Saul, Samuel went to the house of Jesse where, from his appearance, thought that Eliab was surely the man. But Eliab was not God’s choice, for God looks at the heart rather than the appearance of a man, and God chose David, a man after God’s own heart.
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. -- John 7:24
NOT BY HEARSAY
And He will delight in the fear of the Lord,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
-- Isaiah 11:3
The Lord, who discerns correctly the heart of man, judges in equity and truth.
DECEPTIVE APPEARANCES
Why has the way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
-- Jeremiah 12:1
Why do the wicked prosper? Why are the treacherous comfortable? Perhaps they aren’t, since appearances are often deceptive. But what if they are?
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