God Sees The Heart

God Sees the Heart

1 Samuel 16:6-13

Primary Purpose: To examine the qualities that led God to chose David to be king and to be used for his purposes.

After Saul had become disobedient to the Lord, the Lord directed Saul to a family to anoint another king. David wasn’t the oldest son or in the richest family. In fact, David was the youngest. The previous job on his resume was a shepherd, a job thought of as lowly even then. v.11. Yet, God told Samuel to anoint David as king. I want to look at why.

The first thing we want to note is that God’s definition of success has to do with the heart. This is where God looks. God searches the heart and mind when he examines people. When David was speaking to Solomon about this in 1 Chronicles 28:9 he told Solomon that God searches the heart. He said God understands every motive behind every thought. We don’t even know our own motives at times, but to God every secret is laid bare. So, when God makes a judgment about someone, that judgment is completely true and fair. God said that man judges by the outward appearance- the looks, money, charisma, talents. Even Samuel judged Eliab and thought God would ordain him as king because of his looks, but God had rejected him.

So, God’s judgment is distinctly different from man’s. Paul says that God choses often the foolish things of this world, the weak things, the things that are not, in order to be glorified. In order that nobody can boast before God. David had already been learning about dependence on God and now he would depend on him as he led the nation as king 1 Samuel 17:37.

In “Let’s Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage”, Lisa Beamer reflects on the loss of her dad. She says,

“Slowly, I began to understand that the plans God has for us don’t just include “good things”, but the whole array of human events. The “prospering” he talks about in the book of Jeremiah is often the outcome of a bad event. I remember my mom saying that many people look for miracles- things that in their human minds “fix” the situation. Many miracles, however, are not a change to the normal course of human events; they’re found in God’s ability and desire to sustain and nurture people through even the worst situations. Somewhere along the way, I stopped demanding that God fix the problems in my life and started to be thankful for his presence as I endured them.”

In talking about David’s heart, we need to know that David had a heart that hungered for God. David said in Ps 42:1 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” David had a hunger for God, not just what God could offer, but for God. David understood how much God loved him and he loved God. David repeatedly spoke in the Psalms about how God’s love and faithfulness is higher than the skies. He also said in Ps 63:1 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” David repeatedly used phrases in the Psalms to describe his feeling about God such as deliverer, fortress, sun, shield, shelter, dwelling place, rock of refuge, help. He clearly saw all good things as coming from God. He even said in Psalms 16:2 that he saw no good thing apart from God.

The question for us is, “Do you hunger and thirst for God like David did?” “Do you search after God and desire a deeper walk with him or are you satisfied?” The good news is that God says we will find if we seek.

Moses is another good example of someone who sought after God. At first, if you remember, Moses didn’t want to do what God asked him. He was afraid of the burning bush. As time went on, Moses became more bold in his walk with the Lord. Clearly, he desired to know more of God the more time he spent with him. To the point that he would cry out to God “Now show me your glory.” Exodus 33:18. This means he wanted to see God’s face. But, then God told him that he could not see his face and live to tell about it. Exodus 33:20.

The second thing that is clear about David’s heart is that he often cried out to God. The psalms is filled with passages like Ps 34:4-7 that says,

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Sometimes it amazes me how fast we are to go to other people and not God for our answers. Is your first instincts to fall on your knees when faced with a problem or a concern? Do you ask for wisdom from God? If we really believe that God is all powerful and all knowing and good then why do we hesitate to take anything to the Lord. Our friends and family may be sympathetic, but often they can do nothing to change our circumstances, but God can! Take it to the Lord. To the point that we actively take our problems, praises and concerns to God we are showing our level of trust in, our faith in God to answer us.