“The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

This was the counsel the Lord gave Samuel when looking for a new king who ended up being David. Both David and Saul were young and good looking when called. They rose to prominence, but in the end their position and charisma proved to contribute to their downfalls.

Samuel knew even before Israel wanted kings that status didn’t matter in the end. It was hard to make others see despite him being right. I see the Lord’s counsel as comfort to Samuel and all those whose hearts were broken in the Books of Samuel. I’m talking about everyone in the record—including the thousands that are nameless. Even Israel’s enemies –who didn’t have the truth— but many were fighting to protect their families. The Lord knows their hearts and is the final judge. He’s the only one to make things fully right for a person.

When it comes to Michal, her critics will say that she just cared about being associated with the king. I’m somewhat unsure as she witnessed the downfalls of the men most important in her life. It would have been hard to set priorities when you’re in high positions and the whole world can judge your movements.

I noticed that most people in life are neither all good nor evil but somewhere in between. That’s exactly how it is in the Books of Samuel.

1 Samuel 16:7