Seeing from God's Perspective

Gods Perspective

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.”

In 1 Samuel 16:1-13 we have the perfect example of how different God’s perspective is from our perspective. “. . . . . For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” , , , , , , So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. . . . . . . So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “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.” . . . . . So he sent and brought him [David] in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.”

We know what Samuel thought of the whole idea. From the outset, he didn’t want to go as he believed that Saul would kill him when, not if, when he found out. However, God simply ignored his fears and sent him on his way.

The first little cameo of God’s and man’s relative perspective came when Samuel arrived at Bethlehem where the town elders awaited his arrival. The town elders, were aware that Samuel would not visit them on anything other than God’s business, but they were shaking with fear because of that. Samuel was held in awe and fearful respect by them where God simply gave Samuel words of comfort, admonishment, or instruction, and expected him to remain obedient as he always had done so.

Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son, was tall and handsome, a soldier probably. Samuel took one look at him and said to himself, “Oh yes – he will do – he will make a fine figure of a king.” But God looked at Eliab’s heart and promptly rejected him. He chose David, the youngest – a wild lad, yet one who loved music. A brave lad who had fought lion and bear to protect his father’s sheep. God looked at David’s heart and said, “Yes, a man after my own heart. I choose him.”

God looks at our hearts first. I believe that He only looks at our hearts and that when He sees what He is looking for, then He appoints and equips us to do His Kingdom work. Who would have chosen an uneducated, virtually illiterate plumber from Bradford called Smith Wigglesworth? Who would have chosen Evan Roberts from all the myriad of people around him? Who would have chosen a young farm boy like Billy Graham? What made these three, and very many more, stand out from the crowd?

It was their heart which, like David before them, was a heart  “after God’s own heart”.  So let us not judge by outward appearances but rather ask the Lord for His opinion first. Next time we see a young preacher or evangelist stuttering over his words, don’t write him off. Rather encourage him.

Who knows what Wesley, Wigglesworth, Moody, or even Elijah we may be sowing into? Who knows how much our encouragement is needed for them to keep pressing in; to keep trying? Lord knows, we need a few more Wigglesworth’s right now. We need men and women after God’s own heart in these days.