By Isaiah Friesen, a senior Spanish and peace, justice and conflict studies major from Filley, Nebraska
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NRSV)
“The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Might this be the deepest spiritual truth hidden in the story of young David’s anointment as king? Even the human writer turns around and emphasizes first David’s physical appearance rather than his heart, apparently proving the point. As I reflect, I wish I could stick to the simple lesson that God sees my heart rather than my physical or material appearance. The call to reflect on my inner reality, an important part of the Lenten season, is humbling in itself.
However, I feel the Christ calling me also to look beyond my own heart, out into the world, to learn to see other people as God sees them. I want to say, “I do see! I do look on people’s hearts!” It is tempting to excuse myself, to deny my own spiritual blindness, as the Pharisees do in John 9. Unfortunately, I live amid many intersecting social institutions that hinder my ability to see with the eyes of Christ. These sinful systems judge my outward appearance – my whiteness, maleness, wealth, athletic abilities, academic achievements, etc. – and tell me that I am worthy of God’s choosing: “You’ve earned it!” Indeed, the notion of a Christ that looks like me is so prevalent that people often see my beard and long hair and say I “look like Jesus.” These same systems see my brothers and sisters who are poor, who have dark brown skin, who are feminine, who are outsiders to the system in one way or another, and judge them to be unworthy of chosenness. “What about David’s sisters,” I wonder, “who didn’t even get a chance?”
Jesus calls us to follow him in debunking the world’s assertions about who deserves love. As I remember daily that I can never redeem myself or the world by my own power, it is God’s boundless grace that gives me the peace and strength to live into that call.
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NRSV)
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.