Don’t look at the outward appearance

Yesterday I had a parents’ meeting at school where our sons study, and the meeting took place in a Maths classroom. I remember that there are different formulae, rules and portraits of mathematicians on the walls of our school. I was suprised to see some profound teachings hanging in nice frames in this Maths classroom and I was glad to see that the teacher sets great store by spiritual things. As I came home I tried to find these lines on Internet, but I haven’t managed, it seems they haven’t been posted yet. At least, I used all my knowledge to look for them on Internet, but I haven’t found such kind of text. Here is a stanza of what I saw in that classroom:

Man is like a black glass,

You don’t know what’s inside of him;

You think he’s bad and he’s like bread,

You think he’s good and he’s a tyrant…

When God sent Samuel to Jesse from Bethleem to anoint one of his sons as the king of Israel, the Bible says that Samuel…

consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” (1 Samuel 16:5–12)(NASB)

Don’t judge anyone by his/her aspect and don’t look at the outward appearance. The first impression can be very deceptive.

Translated by Djugostran Felicia