Truly Attractive

The contrast could not have been sharper between the Sunday morning sermon we heard and the television show my daughters and I watched later that afternoon.

In the morning, we heard how impressed the prophet Samuel had been by the way Jesse’s older sons looked.

God, however, searched for qualities that went deeper than outward appearance.

The Lord had chosen the youngest son, David, as the future king. While David is described as having ‘a fine appearance and handsome features’ (v. 12), God was looking for ‘a man after his own heart’ (see 1 Samuel 13:14).

The television programme, conversely, was about a personal makeover. A woman gets fashion advice, make-up advice and a new hairstyle. By the end of the programme she appears glowingly transformed.

It is certainly no sin to take care of one’s appearance.

For instance, David’s great-grandmother, Ruth, washed, perfumed herself and put on her best clothes before going to meet her future husband, Boaz.

What really impressed Boaz, though, wasn’t her outward appearance but her ‘noble character’ (see Ruth 3:3–11). The examples of David’s family provide a timely reminder to focus on what makes us attractive to God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to see ourselves and those around us as you do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen