Seeing Things from God’s Perspective

Have you ever been absolutely sure that you know what someone else is thinking only to find out that what was on their mind was not what you assumed that it was?  Samuel—Old Testament judge and prophet—did that. He happened to be very close to the Lord and also happened to hear from Him very clearly, but there is one particular instance where he assumed incorrectly; in this situation, he thought he knew what the Lord wanted and what the Lord was thinking, but he was wrong.  Here’s the story…

The Lord was super unhappy with the king of Israel, Saul, and decided to replace him.  In 1 Samuel 16, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to Jesse’s house to anoint a new king.  Here’s where Samuel went wrong.  When he arrived, he assumed that the first son of Jesse’s he met was THE one—the future king of Israel.  “So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!’”  vs 6

I’m sure Eliab was an impressive fellow, but the Lord said, “Nope.” In fact, here’s what the Lord actually said:  “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. Forthe Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”  vs 7   Super powerful words, and Samuel got the picture.  Watch the progression of the rest of the story:

“So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’  Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’  Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’”  vs 8-10

This is just me, but at some point I might be thinking, “Umm, did I hear You correctly?  Are you sure it’s not one of these guys?”  But then, here it is…David, the last to be presented, youngest of the brothers, was brought before Samuel and the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” vs 12b

Let’s consider…Is there an area of our lives that we are about to choose an Eliab when the Lord would have us hold out for a David?  Is there some circumstance that looks right, but the Lord would say “no” because it’s not His plan…He has something better waiting? Today, let’s turn to Him and ask Him to see things from His perspective and ask Him to help us see things.