The Shepherd Leader: Seeing What Others Miss
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
— 1 Samuel 16:7 (RSVCE)
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced leadership environments—whether in emergency services, corporate boardrooms, or nonprofit organizations—we’re trained to size people up quickly. Résumés, polished presentations, speaking skills, and charisma often steal the spotlight. We reward visibility, not always value. But in God’s kingdom, leadership is not defined by the externals. It's rooted in something deeper—the heart.
This truth is powerfully illustrated in 1 Samuel 16, when the prophet Samuel is sent to anoint a new king for Israel. The man God chooses—David—is not the oldest, the strongest, or the most outwardly impressive. He’s not even present at the lineup. He’s tending sheep, forgotten by his own family. And yet, he’s the one God has called.
Let’s explore what this moment teaches us about leading well by looking with God’s eyes instead of the world’s.
1. The Danger of Surface-Level Leadership
Samuel arrives at Jesse’s house with a mission from God: anoint the new king of Israel. When he sees Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son, he immediately assumes this must be the one. Why? Because Eliab looked the part. He was likely tall, commanding, and well-spoken—the type of leader Israel had chosen in the past, like Saul.
But God intervenes with a lesson:
“The Lord sees not as man sees.”
How often do we fall into that same trap as leaders? We trust resumes over resilience, appearance over authenticity, and charm over character. We choose people based on what looks promising instead of what lasts under pressure.
God’s standard cuts through the superficial. He’s not impressed by LinkedIn profiles or promotional packages. He’s looking for someone whose heart is aligned with His.
This has profound implications for leadership today.
2. The Qualities God Values in a Leader
If David wasn’t the most obvious choice, what made him the right one?
Though Scripture doesn’t lay out a checklist, we can infer several qualities from David’s life that marked him as a leader after God’s own heart:
Faithfulness in obscurity: David wasn’t in the lineup because he was tending sheep. While his brothers were showcasing themselves, he was doing the quiet, unnoticed work. God saw that.
Courage under fire: David had defended his flock from lions and bears long before Goliath. He didn’t need an audience to act bravely—he did what was right even when no one was watching.
A teachable spirit: Throughout David’s life, he was quick to repent, eager to worship, and hungry for God’s direction—even in failure.
Humility: David knew that his strength came from the Lord. He didn’t posture himself as kingly—he relied on God’s anointing.
In the eyes of the world, these qualities don’t always make headlines. But in God’s economy, they are what build enduring leadership.
3. The Call to Discernment
As leaders, one of our primary tasks is to recognize potential—to anoint and appoint the right people to carry vision forward. But that requires discernment. We must tune our hearts to God’s perspective, asking Him to help us see what He sees.
This means:
Resisting the temptation to be wowed by charisma. Not every talented person is the right person.
Looking for consistency over time. Who shows up, even when it’s not glamorous?
Paying attention to the overlooked. Who’s out in the “field,” faithfully doing their job while others are making noise?
God had to correct Samuel’s instincts—and He may need to correct ours, too.
We need to be leaders who pause before making decisions, who pray before promoting, and who ask God for insight before appointing. Because when we rely solely on human perception, we miss what God is doing in the background.
4. What to Do With the Overlooked “Davids” Around You
Let’s talk about that person on your team who’s not getting noticed.
They may not be the loudest. They may not carry the most certifications. They may not be the most polished. But they are faithful. They are hungry to grow. They are carrying the character God can build on.
That person might be your next great leader.
The tragedy in many organizations is that we fail to cultivate potential simply because it doesn’t come in the package we expect. Someone’s story, status, or even season of life may cause us to disqualify them unconsciously.
But God doesn’t overlook the Davids in our midst. And neither should we.
As a leader, it’s your responsibility to:
Call out the gold in others. Speak life into those who may not see their own potential yet.
Create opportunities for growth. Give that quiet, consistent team member a chance to lead a project or speak in a meeting.
Mentor with intentionality. Take someone under your wing—not just the obvious choice, but the willing one.
5. Anointed But Not Yet Appointed
One of the most powerful truths from David’s story is that he was anointed long before he was appointed.
Even after Samuel poured oil over his head, David went back to tending sheep. He didn’t walk into a palace—he returned to obscurity.
Leadership development is often like that. Someone might be called, but not yet placed. They’re anointed, but not yet in a position of authority. That doesn’t make the call any less real.
If you’re reading this and you feel like David—hidden, overlooked, waiting—know this: God has not forgotten you.
Keep serving. Keep preparing. Keep worshiping. Your time will come.
And if you’re a leader who sees someone in that waiting phase, don’t ignore them. Start investing in them now. Their time is coming too.
6. Leading With God’s Vision in Today’s World
You don’t need to be a prophet to lead with spiritual vision—you just need to ask God to help you see with His eyes.
Imagine what your organization, team, or ministry would look like if you stopped selecting based on appearances and started promoting based on character.
Would your culture become healthier?
Would your retention rates improve?
Would your mission be better fulfilled?
Most likely—yes.
When we stop appointing people for the wrong reasons and start listening to the Lord, we unleash leadership that’s rooted in righteousness, not résumés. We build teams full of servant-leaders, not self-promoters. And we reflect God’s heart in a world obsessed with hype.
Conclusion
David's story reminds us that God's method for choosing leaders starkly contrasts with the world’s. He chooses the overlooked. He values the heart. He honors faithfulness in the field long before fame in the spotlight.
The question for us is: will we lead like Samuel, looking at appearances? Or will we slow down long enough to listen to God, so we can find the Davids hidden in our midst?
Leadership is not about finding the most obvious choice. It’s about having the spiritual sensitivity to see what others miss.
This week, challenge yourself to look deeper. Reassess your assumptions. And most importantly, ask God to give you His eyes. Because when we see with God’s vision, we don’t just build better teams—we build kingdom-aligned legacies that last.
Call to Action:
Who in your life or leadership circle might be a “David” waiting to be seen? Reach out. Encourage them. Start the conversation. You never know what kind of leader you might uncover when you start seeing what others miss.
