I write about Stuff

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” — 1 Samuel 16:7

David’s story begins in a place no one expected—with a young shepherd boy tucked away in the hills of Bethlehem, living a life so ordinary that even his own family didn’t consider him worth presenting to the prophet Samuel. He was a musician, a poet, a dreamer, and a fighter. He was courageous enough to defend his flock from lions and bears, yet gentle enough to write songs that still shape worship today. David was a bundle of contrasts, and none of them made him look like a king. But God saw something deeper—something no one else had eyes to notice.

Israel’s first king, Saul, had been chosen because he looked the part. He was tall, impressive, and outwardly strong. But beneath the surface, his heart drifted from God. When God rejected Saul, He sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king. Jesse proudly lined up his seven oldest sons—strong, capable, kingly men. Samuel looked at them and thought, Surely one of these must be the one. But God whispered a different truth: humans see the surface; God sees the soul.

When Samuel asked if there were any other sons, Jesse almost dismissed David as an afterthought. David was out in the fields, doing the work no one else wanted. Yet when he entered the room—dusty, energetic, and full of life—God said, “That’s the one.” Samuel anointed him, and in that moment, the most unlikely candidate became God’s chosen king.

David’s selection reveals something essential about how God works. He delights in choosing people who don’t fit the world’s expectations. He looks past appearance, status, and reputation. He searches for hearts that are open, humble, and willing. David wasn’t perfect—far from it—but he was responsive to God, quick to repent, eager to worship, and courageous in obedience. That is what made him “a man after God’s own heart.”

This theme continues all the way to Jesus. When the long‑awaited Messiah arrived, He didn’t come with royal splendour or physical majesty. Isaiah tells us there was nothing about His appearance that would attract people to Him. Jesus, like David, was overlooked by many because He didn’t match their expectations. Yet He was the fulfilment of God’s promise—the true King whose kingdom would never end.

God still works this way today. He often chooses people who feel unqualified, unnoticed, or unlikely. He isn’t searching for polished résumés or perfect track records. He is looking for availability, humility, and a heart that says, “Lord, here I am—use me.” When someone offers themselves to God, even in weakness, God can shape them into something extraordinary. Ability can be developed; willingness cannot.

David’s story invites us to look at ourselves and others differently. Instead of judging by what we see on the surface, we are called to pay attention to the heart—to the character, the faith, the courage, and the quiet obedience that God values most.

What about you? Where might God be inviting you to step forward—not because you feel qualified, but because He sees something in your heart that He can use for His purposes?