6 When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel noticed Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab. “He has to be the one the Lord has chosen,” Samuel said to himself.
7 But the Lord told him, “Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.”
Over the centuries wise sages have informed us not to judge others just because they sin differently from us. The pot calling the kettle black has a way of deluding us into believing that we are neither. Our willingness to face our reality teaches us that none is sinless.
When Jesus of Nazareth confronted the mob demanding that the fallen women should be stoned to death, in accordance with The Mosaic Laws, Jesus invited those without sin to cast the first stone. Each member of the pack immediately understood that concealed behind their mask of self righteous indignation, their own guilt had corrupted any sense that they had a right to act as judge, jury, and executioner of another human person seeking human compassion to help her change her ways.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
~ Micah 6:8
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