JOURNEYS: God Sees the Heart

New Ways Ministry offers a series of scriptural reflections for LGBTQ+ people and allies, entitled “Journeys.” These resources are suitable for individual reflection, for discussion with a spiritual friend or counselor, or for communal reflection in a parish, school, or other faith community.

Today we debut a new installment for the series based on the seclection of King David, found in 1 Samuel 16. This reflective exercise is housed on the “Journeys” page of New Ways Ministry’s website. There you will find a button to download the text in PDF format.

We pray that these resources will aid your personal journey with God.

If you would like to share some of your reflections with other Bondings 2.0 readers, please feel free to post whatever responses you have in the “Comments” section of this post.

God Sees the Heart

David, the famous king of Israel, was an unlikely candidate for the royal job. When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a new leader from the house of Jesse, the prophet assumed that God would choose among the oldest brothers in the family.

Birth order held great significance in the ancient world. When you were born dictated your status in the family, your inheritance, and your social prospects. By assuming that God would choose the firstborn, Eliab, to be the future king, Samuel was merely acting on favoritism born of a lifetime of social conditioning. Eliab’s good looks seemed like confirmation that he would be an ideal leader. But God rebukes Samuel for this bias, saying “God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart.”

This statement captures an important truth: God sees potential differently than humans do. God is not impressed by wealth, status, beauty, or popularity. God sees our hearts, and calls us accordingly. David, as the eighth son, was so far down the social ladder that he was not even invited to attend the family meeting with Samuel and the older brothers. But God saw David’s passion and humility, the very qualities that made him a great – though imperfect – leader.

1 SAMUEL 16: 1b, 6-13a

The Lord said to Samuel […] I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for from among his sons I have decided on a king.

As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the anointed is here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel, who said, “The Lord has not chosen him.” Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he arrives here.” Jesse had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth with beautiful eyes, and good looking. The Lord said: There—anoint him, for this is the one! Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.

FOR REFLECTION

David’s father overlooked him because of his age. Describe a time when you felt undervalued or overlooked, whether due to your age, sexuality, gender identity, or any other characteristic.
Samuel’s biases about what a good leader would look like misled him. How might your personal preferences, prejudices, or assumptions cause you to misjudge others? Have you ever misjudged another LGBTQ+ person or ally because of their identity?
Samuel had to listen for God’s voice, even when it conflicted with his first instincts. How do you discern God’s voice? How do you differentiate this from your own thoughts?
What qualities do you hope God will see when looking at your heart?
David went on to become the most famous king of Israel. How do you think this experience prepared him to be a good leader? How have your experiences as an LGBTQ+ person or ally shaped you as a leader?
After his anointing “the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.” Christians share in this anointing through our baptism, through which we participate in Christ’s three-fold mission as priest, prophet, and king. What does it mean to you to be anointed by God’s spirit? How could greater awareness of this anointing empower you to live into God’s mission? Has being an LGBTQ+ person or ally helped or hindered your sense of being anointed and given a mission?

PRAYER

God, teach me to see as you see –

Deeper than appearances,

To the heart.

God, teach me to see the people around me as you see them –

Discerning who to trust, and with what;

Glimpsing who needs a kind word;

Recognizing the spark of your Life in each person.

God, teach me to see myself as you see me –

compassionately;

Gifted by your Spirit

And called to serve a sacred purpose.

God, teach me to see.

-Ariell Watson Simon

VIDEO MEDITATION

The story of David’s anointing illustrates how prejudice can cloud our decision-making. Becoming more aware of our unconscious biases can help us to see others more like God sees them, with true discernment. As you watch this brief video, ask God for the wisdom to overcome biases and see to the heart.