1 Samuel 16:6
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
When Samuel was sent to Jesse's house to anoint a successor to Saul, he looked first on Eliab the eldest and concluded that the Lord's anointed stood before him. Eliab was tall and handsome and princely in bearing, more like Saul than the others, so Samuel was ready to anoint him. But God rejected that choice made for countenance and stature, for He does not judge as men judge by outward sight but looks on the heart and sees what is hidden within. Eliab's heart was not right with God and he would have been a proud and exacting ruler, while David the youngest, a humble shepherd lad little in his own sight, was chosen and fitted to rule God's people. No outward beauty or nobility of stature can commend the soul to God, but inner worth and excellency of heart determine acceptance with Him. Therefore present promise does not show which children will do the greatest work, and none should be passed by but every child should be trained and educated for the highest usefulness.
Anointing Scene at Bethlehem
Samuel was sent to Jesse's house to anoint one of his sons as king over Israel as successor to Saul after Saul was rejected, examining the sons in prophetic inspection before the offering-feast. When seven noble-looking sons passed before him, he looked on Eliab the eldest first. Eliab's handsome features, high stature, well-developed form, and dignified and princely bearing more nearly resembled Saul in stature and beauty than the others and attracted attention. Seeing him, Samuel concluded that surely the Lord's anointed stood before him, waiting for divine sanction to anoint him and ready to choose him and the elder sons.
God guided the momentous decision by an angel standing beside Samuel who instructed him not to judge from appearance. That angel signified that David was the one God had chosen to anoint. The verse thus belongs to God's appointment of David, the youngest son and humble shepherd lad, to succeed Saul on the throne of Israel. That appointment led to the later stand of the promised heir, to whom God had given promise of the throne, against Saul the established monarch determined to keep his power. Abner knew of that appointment to succeed Saul yet despised the man chosen and resisted it, being unwilling for him to succeed Saul.
God Looks on Heart
Samuel's exclamation over Eliab was a mistake, for when the seven noble-looking sons passed before him he judged by outward sight and concluded that the eldest, with handsome features, well-developed form, high stature and dignified, princely bearing, must be the Lord's anointed and was ready to choose him and his elder brothers. That error exposes how human judgment fails, mistaking noble appearance for fitness for God's service and being unable to discern who will bear the most important responsibilities, who will be most promising, or who will render the best service to God. God does not judge as people judge, for He refuses choice made for countenance and stature and rejected Eliab. He looks on the heart and sees what is hidden within each person, not as man looks.
Eliab did not fear the Lord and his heart was not right with God, so he was unfit to rule. Had he been called to the throne he would have been a proud, exacting ruler. The elder brothers generally lacked the qualifications God saw as essential in a ruler of His people, being proud, self-centered and self-confident. No outward beauty of face or nobility of stature can recommend the soul to God. True beauty is the wisdom and excellence revealed in character and deportment, and inner worth and excellency of the heart determine acceptance with the Lord of hosts.
David, the youngest son and humble shepherd lad, was chosen for his faithfulness and courage in tending sheep. He had preserved the simplicity and sincerity of his youth and, being little in his own sight, could be trained by God for the responsibilities of the kingdom. His countenance was not lofty but beautiful and expressive of humility, honesty and true courage. From the time of his anointing he received a prudent and understanding heart to become captain of God's people.
Human wisdom without special enlightenment from heaven is incapable of understanding the secrets of the heart or comprehending the counsels of God. God's thoughts and ways toward His creatures are above finite minds. Yet if His children submit their will to God, He will bring them to fill the very place for which they are qualified and enable them to accomplish the work committed to them, so that His beneficent plans are not frustrated by human perversity. This truth must be deeply felt in judging self and others, showing how vain is estimation resting on appearance.
Educate Every Child Equally
Samuel's mistake before Eliab shows that human judgment fails to discern who will bear the most important responsibilities, for when seven noble-looking youths passed before him he saw the first with handsome features, well-developed form and princely bearing and decided this must be the anointed king. That readiness to choose Eliab and the elder sons for their noble appearance exposed judging by outward sight, since the elder brothers were proud, self-centered and self-confident and lacked the qualifications essential in a ruler, while David, whom they lightly regarded, had preserved the simplicity and sincerity of his youth and, being little in his own sight, could be trained for the responsibilities of the kingdom. No one can decide from present promise what will prove great or small in life's possibilities, for brightness and promise do not reveal which children will be used most, and in many a child whom parents would pass by are seen capabilities far above those of others thought to possess great promise, while workers in lowly places often achieve results kings might envy.
Judging by outward appearance mistakes noble bearing for fitness for service, as when the eye rested on the elder son's handsome countenance and fine stature and concluded surely the anointed stood before him. Such human selection by noble appearance cannot tell who will be most promising, who will render the best service, or who will prove efficient in the work. It is therefore wrong to choose only a few youth of apparent outward promise for thorough education while the rest are neglected. No child should be passed by or denied full education, but every child and all youth should be given education, training and opportunity for usefulness as laborers together with God, fitted for the highest service and for places of responsibility in private and public life in this life.
The truth that God refuses choice made for countenance and stature and looks on the heart must be deeply felt in judging self and others, showing how vain is estimation resting on appearance. No outward beauty of face or nobility of stature can recommend the soul, for inner worth and excellency of the heart determine acceptance. David as the promised shepherd lad holding God's promise of the throne while the established monarch was determined to keep his power shows how to meet powerful opposition by standing in faith in God's word.