Never Judge a Book By it’s Cover

Never Judge a Book By It’s Cover. Article by G Mordaunt

One of the things us humans are prone to do and have done in the past, and I dare say it will happen in the future,  is that we tend to judge people by their appearance, demeanour, how they talk etc. . . This was brought out to me some years ago.  It was the year 2009, I was watching the show: Briton’s Got Talent; when a Scottish lady came walking out on stage and confronted a very cynical crowd and Judges. The lady’s name was Susan Boyle. You may have heard of her? She certainly has captured the world’s attention. If you passed her in the street, you wouldn’t give her a second look. She is plumpish, you wouldn’t call her attractive. The media described her as unkempt in appearance.

One of the Judges, Simon, asked her name, age, She said : Susan Boyle and she was 47 years old and lived in a collection of villages with her cat named Pebbles, and was asked, “What’s the dream?” She wanted to become a professional singer and was asked, how successful she wanted  to be? She answered someone like Elaine Paige, one of Briton’s top female vocalists. You could hear the audience’s cynical response.  One of the other Judges asked her what she was going to sing? Susan said “I Dreamed a Dream” from Le Miserables.

When she began to sing you could  see the Judges jaws drop, eyebrows raised, and by the time she had finished the whole audience erupted in a standing ovation and cheers with the Judges.

Pierce, one of the Judges said that it was the biggest surprise that he had in three years of judging the program. When she stood there wanting to be like Elaine Paige, everybody was laughing at her. No one is laughing now, that her performance was absolutely stunning. He was in shock. Amanda, the other Judge said: “That was the biggest wakeup call ever. Everybody was against her.” She got the biggest yes ever and went on to sing in the semi-finals and the grand-final. Here was the classic example of judging a book by its cover. Susan Boyle’s performance was up there with the best, but she wasn’t in the mould of the Celine Dion’s and the Miriah Carey’s of the world.

So what’s my point? The Bible has something to say about Judging of individuals by their appearance.

1Sa 16:6  And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.

1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

So what we see is that Susan Boyle was judged by her appearance.

When Jesus was on earth, did he attract people because of His appearance?

Isa 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

So Jesus’ appearance was just like a normal human being who was endowed with miraculous powers and tender concerns for the poor and downtrodden that drew the crowds to Him.  

So let’s remember that we are all unique individuals with various gifts and talents that would contribute to each other’s baggage, and that we will  always see in each other as a very unique person who is loved by Jesus and each other. As Jesus said:” Men shall know you are my Disciples if you have love for each  other.”

If you would like to view Susan Boyle’s  performance, click on this link.