Thread by @thisisfoster

1 “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.” - 1 Sam 16:7

So this means looks don't matter, right? Wrong. Let me explain…

2 This verse is saying what we all know: looks really matter to people.

Someone might say: Sure, looks matter to people but not to God. Really?

So then is finding certain attributes attractive a product of the fall?

Maybe some of them, I suppose. But all? No...

3 God is the designer of our desires & we naturally find His design desirable.

We care about appearance because God made us to care. Our bodies are wonderfully made (Ps 139:14). The fall has marred our design but not obliterated it.

4 The beauty of certain physical attributes still shines though and we’re attracted to where that light shines more brightly.

5 Scripture calls Sarah & Rebekah beautiful (Gen 12 & 26). “Rachel was beautiful of form & face” (Gen 29:17) The same was said of Hadassah (Es 2:7). There was no man more handsome than Saul in Israel (1 Sam 9:2). And Eliab, old brother of David, like Saul was tall & handsome.

6 Scripture openly & unashamedly acknowledges external beauty. It rejects the whole “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” nonsense. Sure, there are aspects of beauty that are subjective & rooted in mere preference. But there are well-known the universal standards of beauty.

7 Both sexes find faces that reflect the average & are symmetrical attractive. These factors seem to be related to perceived health & fertility. Their attractiveness makes sense in light of God’s command to be fruitful. We desire the things that help us fulfill our design.

8 In terms of form, attractiveness is driven by sexual dimorphism. Men are attracted to women’s breast, hips, buttocks. Women are attracted to taller men with a V-shaped body. These are tendencies. Again, these attributes are tied to fruitfulness. This is reflected in Scripture.

9 In summary, men find youthful fecundity to be attractive and women find powerful ableness to be attractive. To simplify it even more…

Men desire beauty.
Women desire strength.

It’s our nature. It’s our design.

Which bring us back 1 Sam 16:7…

10 Our design leads us to associate beauty & strength with moral goodness. But due to the fall, this isn’t true.

You can be physically beautiful but quite ugly in terms of character.

You can be physically strong but weak in your virtues.

That’s the point of 1 Sam 16:7.

11 Saul was tall & handsome, as was Eliab. David wasn’t described as tall but 1 Sam 16 says he was “ruddy, with beautiful eyes & handsome in appearance.” And we know David could tussle.

David was chosen over Eliab because he had character than matched & exceeded his appearance.

12 It’s unbiblical to say appearance doesn’t matter. It does. External beauty & strength are desirable. However, Scripture teaches that both are fleeting.

A pretty woman with an ugly heart is an ugly woman.
A powerful man without virtue is a weak man.

Age reveals the real you.