The heart in the book of Samuel is seen as the seat of emotions (1 Samuel 1:8; 1 Samuel 4:13; 1 Samuel 17:32; 1 Samuel 25:36; 1 Samuel 28:5), will (1 Samuel 6:6; 1 Samuel 7:3), motives (1 Samuel 17:28), reason (1 Samuel 21:12), and conscience (1 Samuel 25:37; 2 Samuel 24:10).1 That the Lord looks at the heart thus implies that external appearances do not matter as much as godly character when it comes to those who serve in office.2 The Lord can assess the true character of an individual (see Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 20:12).3 People and God do not perceive creational realities in the same way.4 Jesus also highlighted the contrast between the way in which God sees and the sight of man (Luke 16:15).5
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”