Read
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
Reflect
There’s no doubt that television plays a huge role in the way we view the world. Today, it’s more than even TV. Our young people are beholden more to what they see on their cell phones than even what we watch on television. Before we became so dependent on images, we relied more on what we read and, in the age of radio, what we heard. Now, so much of what influences us is determined by what we see, whether or not those images are true, complete or reliable.
Take, for example, the first televised general-election presidential debate, aired on September 26, 1960. Before television became such a dominant political force, voters learned about candidates largely through newspapers, radio reports, speeches and campaign appearances. But in 1960, millions of Americans were able to watch the two major-party presidential candidates debate one another on television. What they saw became part of the story of that election and an early indication of how powerfully visual media could shape public perception.
Republican Vice President Richard Nixon faced off in the debate against the Democrat nominee, Senator John F. Kennedy. Nixon had recently been hospitalized for a knee infection, and he had maintained an intense campaign schedule following his stay in the hospital. When he arrived for the debate, Nixon appeared tired and had a “five o’clock shadow.” Kennedy, meanwhile, was well-rested and clean-shaven. Though the two candidates were only four years apart in age, Nixon looked like an old man compared to Kennedy’s youthful appearance.
Republican Vice President Richard Nixon faced Democratic nominee Senator John F. Kennedy. Nixon had recently been hospitalized with a knee infection, had lost weight and had returned to a demanding campaign schedule. When he appeared for the debate, he looked tired and had a visible five-o’clock shadow. Kennedy, meanwhile, had rested and prepared carefully for the appearance. Though only four years separated them in age, the contrast on television made Kennedy appear considerably younger and healthier.
The debate itself was substantive, and both candidates made their cases. But Kennedy’s television performance was widely regarded as stronger, while Nixon’s appearance became one of the enduring stories of the night. Roughly 70 million Americans watched the debate, an enormous audience for the time.
A popular story developed afterward that television viewers believed Kennedy had won while radio listeners favored Nixon. That claim has been repeated for decades, although later scholarship has questioned how firmly the evidence supports such a neat divide. However, there were claims that Nixon’s running mate, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, believed that Kennedy had won the debate, while Kennedy’s running mate, Senator Lyndon Johnson, felt that Nixon had won. Lodge watched on TV; Johnson listened on the radio.
What is not in doubt is that television changed presidential politics. Candidates were no longer simply heard or read about; they were seen.
The debates mattered to voters, too. Later polling indicated that more than half of voters believed the debates had influenced their decisions. Television had made presentation, appearance and image part of political communication in a way they had never been before.
In the decades since, that trend has only accelerated. Today, we aren’t influenced merely by television. We live in a world of social media, filters, carefully staged photographs, retouched images and increasingly realistic AI-generated pictures and video. People can spend hours comparing their ordinary lives to someone else’s carefully edited highlight reel.
We see influencers who always seem happy, wealthy and perfectly put together. We see products photographed under perfect lighting. We see people presenting carefully crafted versions of themselves to the world. And sometimes we forget that packaging and substance are not the same thing.
Samuel nearly made that mistake when God sent him to the house of Jesse to anoint Israel’s next king. Samuel saw Jesse’s son Eliab and immediately thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” Eliab apparently looked the part, but God told Samuel otherwise: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature.” Samuel saw what was impressive on the outside. God saw what was inside.
Repeatedly in Scripture, we are warned not to confuse appearance with character.
- “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
- “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24)
- “So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:28)
- “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)
It isn’t wrong to admire beautiful things or to notice appearance. God created beauty, after all. The danger comes when appearance becomes the basis for our judgment.
Packaging can be persuasive. So can charisma, reputation, status, advertising, eloquence or an impressive online persona. But none of those things necessarily tell us what lies beneath the surface.
As Christians, we have to resist the world’s tendency to value packaging over substance. That applies to what we choose to watch, listen to, purchase or vote for. It applies to the people we admire and the people we choose to associate with. And it should certainly affect the way we judge the people we meet.
Today, pray for the Lord’s wisdom and discernment. Ask Him to help you see people and situations with spiritual eyes, not simply noticing what is presented on the outside, but seeking the truth and character that lie within.
Enjoyed this? Subscribe and get future reflections, bourbon notes, and assorted nonsense delivered straight to your inbox.
Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
