His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.
— 1 Kings 1:6
Here we are introduced to another “very handsome” man—Adonijah, the son of David, who was born after Absalom. In his father’s old age, Adonijah set his heart on the throne and attempted to make himself king.
However, throughout Scripture, we see that kings are not self-appointed; they are established by God Himself. This pattern is clear in the lives of Saul and David. Each time someone attempted to make themselves king apart from God’s appointment, they were ultimately rejected.
Adonijah’s actions reveal both ambition and a disregard for God’s authority. Rather than waiting on God, he sought to exalt himself.
The phrase “he was also a very handsome man” is not incidental. It subtly foreshadows what is to come. Scripture often introduces individuals by their outward appearance to hint that, while they may be impressive externally, something deeper may be lacking.
This is not the first time we see such a description. Saul was noted for his outward appearance, and Abimelech in Judges 9 follows a similar pattern. These examples remind us that external impressiveness does not equal godly character.
“He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
And He set the world on them.”
— 1 Samuel 2:8
As Hannah declares in her prayer, it is the Lord who raises up and brings down. Authority and position belong to Him alone.
“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’”
— 1 Samuel 16:7
This truth runs throughout Scripture: God looks at the heart, while man is often captivated by outward appearance.
Because of our fallen nature, our eyes are easily drawn to what is attractive but deceptive. We see this in the Garden of Eden, where Eve desired the forbidden fruit. We see it in Achan (Joshua 7), who coveted the spoils of Jericho. We see it in David, who lusted after Bathsheba, and in Judas Iscariot, who pursued money and power and ultimately betrayed Jesus.
Yet the consistent testimony of Scripture calls us to something deeper. When Paul writes to Timothy about the qualifications of elders, the focus is not on outward appearance, but on inward character. Likewise, when Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, He exposes their misplaced emphasis on external rituals:
“It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
— Matthew 15:11
When we embrace this biblical perspective, it reshapes how we discern and relate to others. Our natural inclination may be to admire popularity, influence, or outward success, yet these can easily mask a lack of integrity and godliness.
Therefore, we must be a discerning people—those who look beyond appearances and examine the heart. Let us give greater weight to character than to charm, and to substance than to style.
I pray that you would grow in discernment, valuing what God values and seeking what reflects His heart.
Grace and peace!
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