One of the things that bothers me the
most is being misunderstood by others.
Somehow, things that come out of my mouth don’t always sound the way I
intended them to thus failing to come across with my intended meaning. I don’t like to be misunderstood, but I’m
pretty sure nobody else does either. We
want to be known by others, loved by others for who we are, and it’s great when
our actions are understood by those around us because they know our heart.
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try,
there are a few people who can never see us for who we really are. They are often family members who can’t see
beyond who we once were, or still see us with their skewed perceptions based on
their own personal issues. Of course,
our own flaws magnify the problems between all parties involved. I wonder if David was bothered by his
brother’s failure to understand.
(David inquires
about what will be done for the man who kills Goliath who defies God) And
his oldest brother Eliab heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was
kindled against David. And he said, Why have you come down? And with whom have
you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the
naughtiness of your heart. For you have come down to see the battle. 1Sm. 17:28
When David
was inquires about the situation with Goliath at the battlefront, his eldest
brother Eliab becomes angry. I don’t
want to focus on the why’s but rather what he said, “I know your pride and the
naughtiness of your heart.” Eliab thinks he knows David’s heart, but he doesn’t. He sees only the flawed 'little boy' who is his
brother. In fact, he also accuses David
of coming just to see the battle when it was their father who sent him on the
mission.
I think it is
a human trait to think we know each other’s hearts, but often times we are just
seeing (and judging) their actions. We
can’t know their hearts completely, because we ARE human. Only God understands every heart, “…For
Jehovah searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the
thoughts…” (1Ch. 28:9) In fact, just the
chapter before we find Samuel ready to anoint someone in the household of
Jesse, “…For I have seen a king for Me among his sons.” (1Sm. 16:1) but God
passes by all the eldest in favour of the youngest, David:
And it happened as they came in, he saw Eliab and
said, Surely Jehovah's anointed is
before Jehovah. But Jehovah said to Samuel, Do not look on his face, nor on his
height, because I have refused him. For He does not see as man sees. For man
looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart. 1Sm. 16:6,7
Thus we see
that Eliab was refused by God though Samuel thought he looked the part given
his stature and looks. But God saw his
heart was not right for the job and so refused him. In fact, seven sons were turned down before
the Lord had Samuel anoint David of whom God said was, “…a man after My own
heart, who shall fulfill all My will.” (Ac. 13:22) God wasn’t saying David was perfect or would
do no wrong, but rather (imo) that his heart was in the right place of love and
obedience to God.
So at those
times when man misunderstands our motives and heart, we have this assurance:
God sees all, and He knows our hearts. “…For
He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Ps. 44:21)
Man may get the wrong impression, but God knows the truth of all matters
for “He formed the hearts of them all; he understands everything they do.” (Ps.
33:15 ISV) And even if we don’t know
ourselves, God knows us intimately for “…all things are
naked and opened to the eyes of Him…” (Heb. 4:13)
There is no misunderstanding with God!