Canvas Moments…Quick to Judge

An Artist’s Diary

Mixed media by Kellyn

Have you ever failed in making a wrong assumption about someone? Assuming to know that I am not alone in this matter. (pun intended) I am being reminded of occasions in the past when I am meeting someone for the first time that is not all put together. Perhaps, they have messy hair, old and tattered clothing, and dirty, torn up shoes. What’s your first thought? C’mon, don’t be shy. Well, my first thought was that this person is homeless. Why are they are not working? What caused them to be homeless? Are they an addict? Etc., etc., etc. What if, by chance this person was out to buy more materials to work in a garden? Yes, I know the feeling.

(1 Samuel 1: 10-18 NIV) “Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

Why are we so quick to make an assumption and form in our minds an idea that we think is the right opinion? That’s all it is, an opinion. We rush to form opinions in our minds thinking we know the right answers. There is a huge chasm between listening and hearing. Hearing requires us to understand that we are not perfect and perhaps worse than the person that we are judging. Actually laying aside all pre-conceived ideas about someone to listen with the mind and heart of God.

Eli, the Priest, was quick to judge Hannah. He assumed because she came into the House of God right after eating and drinking in Shiloh, that she was dishonoring the temple of the Lord. He didn’t take the time to listen and see her grief, weeping and crying out to the Lord in despair. He formed an opinion of her after his quick observation. This was not pleasing to God.

I understand that Eli was a man of authority and held a position of importance to the people of Israel, however, it was wrong in his judgment call of Hannah. Instead, of walking away in pride, Eli got off his priestly pedestal and in humility gave Hannah a chance to respond. He listened to her cry and desire to give her husband a son. He felt her pain and distress of being barren and acknowledged that she was laid bare before God. Hannah was pouring out her heart to God. It wasn’t holy and a pretty sight to see.

Eli’s quick decision to judge Hannah was based on how she looked. It wasn’t “normal” (whatever normal is) to see a woman in anguish whispering to herself and appearing to be drunk. God turned this bad judgment into abundant blessings.

(1 Samuel 1: 17 NIV) “Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

Because of this simple act of humility, many blessings flowed for the people of Israel. Can you imagine how many blessings would flow when we, too, act humbly before others? It’s never easy to admit our shortcomings or misjudgments. When we choose not to, we could be blocking God’s path to do a mighty thing in our life or in the life of the other person.

(Philippians 2: 3-7 NIV) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

God is a just God. He is the only one that judges according to the riches of His glory and purpose. Let’s humble ourselves without any selfish ambition or vain conceit. Let’s be conduit’s of grace, love and acceptance.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I look forward to meeting you in the comments. If you enjoy reading my moments with God, please share with others.