"The elder brothers, from whom Samuel would have chosen, did not possess the qualifications that God saw to be essential in a ruler of His people. Proud, self-centered, self-confident, they were set aside for the one whom they lightly regarded, one who had preserved the simplicity and sincerity of his youth, and who, while little in his own sight, could be trained by God for the responsibilities of the kingdom. So today, in many a child whom the parents would pass by, God sees capabilities far above those revealed by others who are thought to possess great promise. Ed 266.1"
"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."
EGW directly references the story of Samuel anointing David, contrasting human judgment with God's. She explicitly draws a parallel between the elder brothers' outward appearance and David's hidden potential, echoing the principle in 1 Samuel 16:7 that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.
"And as regards life's possibilities, who is capable of deciding what is great and what is small? How many a worker in the lowly places of life, by setting on foot agencies for the blessing of the world, has achieved results that kings might envy! Ed 266.2"
"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."
While not a direct allusion, the EGW passage continues the theme of God choosing the unexpected and finding greatness in the seemingly insignificant, which is a broader application of the principle illustrated in 1 Samuel 16:7. The connection is less direct than in the previous passage, but still present.
"Let every child, then, receive an education for the highest service. “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that,” Ecclesiastes 11:6 , R.V. Ed 266.3"
"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."
Ellen White directly references Ecclesiastes 11:6 in this passage.