NOT ON PHYSICAL LOOKS - A: 4th Sun in Lent

First Reading: 1 Sam 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 (19 March 2023)

“Jesse had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth with beautiful eyes, and good looking” (1 Sam 16:12).

This is the biblical description of David. First, he was portrayed as a young man. In reality, he was even very young, being the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse (16:13; 17:14) who was not yet eligible to go to war unlike his three eldest brothers (17:13). Second, his complexion was ruddy or reddish. This color might have been a result of being frequent in the open fields and under the scorching sun as a shepherd (16:19; 17:15, 20, 34). Third, he was represented “with beautiful eyes.” This translation occurs in most English Bible (e.g., English Standard Version, New American Bible, and New Revised Standard Version). But there are some editions that do not express outright the physical beauty of his eyes, but highlight only their peculiarity: “bright eyes” (New King James Version, Complete Jewish Bible), “with a sparkle in his eyes” (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation), and “striking eyes” (Evangelical Heritage Version). Lastly, he was depicted as “good looking”. However, both the Hebrew and Greek original text merely express goodness in attitude/behavior with the adjectives tov and agathos, respectively.

From these expositions, it can be said that David was not automatically physically attractive after all. His looks and countenance might be decent but were not necessarily adorable to the point that people were immediately impressed by a sight of him.

The contrast, meanwhile, is Saul who was earlier portrayed as “a handsome young man. There was no other Israelite more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people” (9:2). Not only was Saul handsome and youthful according to this verse, but he was the most handsome among all the Israelites and he was the tallest among all of them as well.

With these extraordinary physical qualities of the first Israelite king, everybody had the presupposition that all kings should possess superior looks and imposing bearing among their peers.

It is for this reason that the even the prophet Samuel himself was anticipating that God would choose and anoint Jesse’s firstborn, Eliab, thinking to himself, “Surely the anointed is here before the Lord” (16:6). At this point, the prophet might have found Eliab’s stature as somewhat similar or, at least, near the beautiful physical features of Saul. However, “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” (v. 7). This statement only suggests that David was not physically a head-turner like his brother Eliab. He might be fine-looking, but not to the same level as Saul or one of his brothers.

On top of his simple looks, he was a man who worked the ordinary craft of the poor. Aside from being a shepherd, he was also an errand boy of the family (16:20; 17:17, 22), an armor bearer of the king (16:21, 22), and a musician in the royal court (16:23). Overall, David is a simple man, who was never perceived by anybody as a candidate to being a king. But the Lord selected him through Samuel, who “anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (v. 13).

The Lord chooses mysteriously… reminding us to not restrict our judgment on another based on physical appearance alone.

- Rex Fortes, CM