We move forward into the book of 1 Samuel that chronicles the beginning of Israel’s monarchy; following the lives of the prophet Samuel, the ill-fated King Saul, and God’s ultimate choice of David as king. Several themes feature prominently; Providence, Kingship: Reversal of human fortune.
First, the book recounts stories of Samuel, Saul, and David as they struggle with themselves, among each other, and with Go. It is a time when Israel is transformed from a loose confederation of tribes led by the judges such as Gideon and Deborah to a nation ruled by a king.
Perhaps there are 2 Key Verses in this book. The first is 1 Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” The second from chapter 16:7 where we read, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
In this election year with so many countries voting for who will lead their nations; it is a sobering thought that in the Old Testament that there is no division between religion and state that is so apparent within today's societies.
Whilst it is unlikely that the majority of people will neither want to or be in a place being of elected to lead a nation, in our assessment of another’s worth, we would do well to adopt God’s characteristic of looking at another’s heart.
In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial, Eliot impatiently said, “Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship.”
“We were thinking of something more substantial than that... perhaps a building,” the woman replied.
In a patronising tone, Eliot brushed aside the idea as being too expensive and the couple departed.
The next year, Eliot learned that this plain pair had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million memorial named Leland Stanford Junior University, better known today as Stanford!
In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Phantom Of the Opera we find the song called “Look with your heart”; words by Glenn Evan Slater
“Look with your heart and not with your eyes. The heart understands. The heart never lies. Believe what it feels, and trust what it shows. Look with your heart; the heart always knows. Love is not always beautiful, not at the start. But open your arms, and close your eyes tight. Look with your heart and when it finds love, your heart will be right.”
Loving Father, may I heed this warning not to rely on outward appearances, knowing that the heart of man can be so deceitful. Thank You that You look through my outward appearance and see me as I truly am. You even know my motives for my words and deeds. Thank You that nothing is hidden from You. Help me to keep my mind fixed on Jesus in all I say and do, that it may be the life of the Lord Jesus that flows out from me, making me pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
No comments:
Post a Comment