Looks Aren’t Everything

“But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” II Samuel 14:25

Absalom was David’s third son by his wife Maacah (II Samuel 3:3).  He was apparently a very handsome man according to the above description.  His hair grew long and thick and he would cut it once a year and then weigh it, I suppose because he was proud of it and to give him something to boast about as if he didn’t already have much of which he could boast.  His hair would usually weigh 200 shekels or about three pounds.  (That is a lot of hair.  It’s a wonder he didn’t have a headache with all that weigh pulling on his scalp).

David’s father-in-law and first king of Israel, Saul, was also admired for his good looks and his tall height (I Samuel 9:2).  Both of these men gained a wide following of Israelites, in part due to their exterior attractiveness.  Many folks are influenced by looks.  Some people even vote for candidates who are handsome or pretty for that reason, as if that was a criteria for good leadership.  However, both of these men were unscrupulous, egotistical, and overly ambitious.  Both of them, at separate times, pursued David in order to eliminate him from competition.  Saul was jealous of David’s popularity with the people of Israel while Absalom hated his father for several reasons, one of which was David’s failure to punish Amnon, Absalom’s half-brother, who raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar.  Absalom took matters into his own hands and killed Amnon.  As the old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Speaking of appearances, I thought about all the time that folks spend before mirrors.  Some people can’t pass a mirror or other reflective item without checking themselves out and either spotting something gone awry, or they might just be admiring what they see.  There is certainly nothing wrong with the desire to makes one’s appearance presentable to others, but it is the beauty of a person within his or her heart that is the best way to attract others.  Outward appearance is no indicator of what lies within the soul and spirit of a person.  A beautiful exterior can hide one’s true character.  “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone” as they, that mysterious group of so-called experts, say.

God is not nearly as concerned with our outward appearance as He is with what is on the inside of us.  He made a way whereby we can be sustained throughout a lifetime and not only survive, but thrive, no matter how we look.  When we pattern our lives as God outlines in his word, we develop a beauty that penetrates every part of our being.  God’s word is like a mirror which shows us our sins and shortcomings.  A bathroom mirror can show us our flaws, but can do nothing to help us eliminate those flaws.  God’s word give us all the help we need to overcome those sins that mar the beauty within our souls.  As we follow Christ, others can look into our faces and see Christ’s reflection, that of beauty, mercy, and love.  My goal is that folks see Jesus when they look at me.