Day Nine: BEAUTY’S MYSTERY
But the LORD said to Samuel,
“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.
For the LORD does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
—1 SAMUEL 16:7
Of all the women noted in Scripture as physically beautiful, can you tell me what any one of them looked like?
I can’t either. No physical quality is accurately described. Women are simply said to be lovely in form, or beautiful. The text is always purposely vague. God avoids telling us the particulars. Why would God tell us that women in Scripture were physically beautiful, but never tell us what they looked like?
Perhaps God is hinting that when we claim a woman is beautiful, we also hint that others are less so.We would be oppressed for all time if the beautiful women of the Bible were accurately described, because our tendency is to believe there is but one standard for physical beauty. As a culture, we instinctively move toward one ideal while we reject all others. We are wired for worship, and it spills over even into our consideration of appearance.
God acknowledges that some women are considered in their time as beautiful. God doesn’t define their physical beauty. He leaves it a mystery. Yet we know God is a very specific builder: He gives exact measurements for His creations, including the temple, the ark of the covenant, and Noah’s ark. For these, He lists specific materials and colors to be used, types of wood, fabric, jewels, shapes, designs, and fragrances. But not once does He define the ideal shape, size, color, or appearance of a beautiful woman. Let’s take the same approach. Let’s stop defining beauty in absolute, worldly terms. Let’s leave it a mystery.
Ask: God, give me the willingness to surrender my ideas about beauty.
Believe: I will see the beauty in all women and celebrate that beauty.