Double Vision

(1Sa 16:7 KJV)  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

(Proverbs 10 also read)

This is a well known passage.  It is a word of caution for us.  We cannot look at the heart of another human being.  We have a hard enough time with our own hearts.  God sees clearly and totally.  That much I have heard spoken about regularly.

This morning as I was contemplating this example of God’s power it occurred to me that there was another aspect of this that I had never heard mentioned.  With us it is either/or and we acknowledge that we only have one choice.  With God it is both/and.  You see?  God sees the heart, granted.  That does not mean He does not see the “outward” (5869).  It does not even imply it but that fact seems to elude us.  

So?  The life of righteousness is the extension of the inner cleansing.  We do not see that so much in this verse but if you follow the life of David you see how fallible he is but you also see how his heart keeps pulling him back toward the Lord.  It is that quality that God could see.  Let it be in me also.