Daily Devo
The Lord Looks at the Heart
By: Bob Beck
Friday, April 3, 2026
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.” 1 Samuel 16:7
God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint Israel's next king. Samuel was drawn to Jesse's oldest sons because they were tall and strong. God stepped in to instruct Samuel in verse 7. In the original language, the word used for “heart” refers to what's inside a person. We can only see what's on the surface, but God's vision goes deeper. The Lord sees past what is visible. He sees our soul, our inner self.
This passage tells us that Saul has been rejected, and he will be replaced by a man of God's choosing. To see why, it's helpful to contrast Saul and David’s character. In the book of Samuel, Saul has trouble with his humility. He gets rejected because he disobeyed God. Saul wasn't a priest, but he thought he was worthy to offer God sacrifices. He thought his idea would please God, but pride became his downfall. Saul's pride blinded him to an important biblical principle; obeying God is far more important than any gift we can bring Him.
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king. 1 Samuel 15:22-23
If our heart is godly, we will want to obey God! That's why God called David, "a man after my own heart." David's desire to obey came from within, from his heart. David had other characteristics that pleased God: a strong faith, and an undying love for God. David wasn't perfect, but whenever he sinned, he confessed it and repented.
David wrote many psalms. As we read them, we can see how much he loved and trusted God. If you haven't read Psalm 51 in a while, re-read it. When God convicted David for his sin with Bathsheba, he recorded his feelings in Psalm 51. When he repented for the sins of lying, adultery, and murder, God forgave him and restored him. Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance, and its words come from David's heart. His words from verse 10 make a great daily prayer for us all.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NLT)