Broken Kingdoms: WK1 - WED

Kingdoms of Celebrity - 1 Samuel 9:1-2; 10:24
There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

In his 2005 book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell introduces the concept of the “Warren Harding Error” by recounting the story of the 29th president of the United States. After providing evidence that Harding was one of the worst presidents in American history, he explores why he was elected despite data suggesting he would be a disaster.
Warren Harding looked presidential, unlike his competitors. He was tall, handsome, and commanding. Onlookers often commented on his “broad-shouldered presence,” as if it directly signaled capability and competence. While his shoulders appeared strong, he was notoriously passive in moments that called for decisiveness. Harding’s administration was filled with corruption, unchecked by his poor personal leadership. Harding himself once said, “I am not fit for this office and should never have been here.” False humility and self-deprecation? No. Most historians agree that Warren Harding was a terrible president.

You might be thinking that it’s too bad there wasn’t evidence to warn voters about this outcome. But there was plenty. Take Harding’s senatorial voting record. He wasn’t even present to vote in two-thirds of the votes held during his time in Congress, including the vote on women’s suffrage.

So, how does this happen? It's simple. We humans are captivated by shallow, superficial issues while ignoring character flaws, signs of corruption, and poor judgment. Meanwhile, just a few years after today’s passage, when God decides to replace Saul as king, He explains to His prophet, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

You might be thinking, “That kind of decision-making never happens to me.” And maybe you’re right. Maybe you’ve never confused charisma for kindness, beauty for competence, or stature for intelligence. It’s possible you’ve never given undue influence to a person of wealth, someone of fame, or a graduate of the best universities. But I doubt it. You are probably like me, and like the Israelites of old. We naturally fall prey to evaluations based on outward appearance.

Today, may God give us new eyes to evaluate the heart of things. May we value character over reputation, and substance over style.

If you could spend a day with anyone from history, past or present, who would it be? Why would you choose that person?
Do you believe people ever give you too much or too little credit based on your appearance or how you carry yourself? Why do you think that is?
When you consider God’s way of judging a person's heart rather than their outward appearance, who comes to mind as someone you should include in your life? What makes them a good choice?