I Know Your Heart

Sermon Series

Trust the Promise. As we -- pastor and congregation -- begin a new chapter of ministry at Lighthouse, we are exploring how God calls us forward. The promises of God are life-shaping, yet it takes time and experience for us to learn to trust them. This summer, we are seeking to respond fully and freely to God’s call.

Last week the call story of Moses: I will be with you.

This week the call story of David: I know your heart.

CONTEXT

When we left off from Moses, Israel a theocracy — people ruled directly by God.

Over the years that form of government degraded. “Each man did whatever he thought right in his own eyes.” Judges arose - Samson, Deborah, Gideon. Periodic restoration of right living. Never lasted.

Then the people demand for monarchy.

Went to Samuel, the last of the judges: We want to be like all the other nations! 1 Sam 8

So God directed Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king — one that the people would approve. Son of a wealthy man, handsome — no one more handsome in Israel, and head and shoulders above the others.

But it did not work out. Saul strayed from godly path, seeking to please people more than God. 1 Sam 13

So God sends Samuel to anoint a new king: one with “a heart after God’s own heart.” 1 Sam 13:14.

God sends Samuel to the town of Bethlehem, a small out of the way town, for he has chosen one of the sons of a man there called Jesse. 1 Sam 16

So Samuel goes. Samuel calls the elders together, especially invites Jesse and his sons. Jesse gathers his sons before Samuel. Each of them passes before Samuel.

Samuel knows, one of these sons is going to be the next king. God will show him which one.

TEXT

1 Samuel 16:6–13 (ESV)

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward...

Prayer

As you taught your servant Samuel to see deeper than outward appearance, teach us also to value a heart set on you. Open our hearts to hear your word, so that we might be anointed by your spirit, and made your very own people.

Introduction

Don’t judge a book by its ______.

A warning against superficiality. Same with major purchases: home inspection yesterday for 2hrs. Relationships: Getting to know someone before committing to a relationship.

Data about isolation and depression as people seek to find “significant other” online: Attractive people get lots of clicks, but “normies” get fewer: Harder for normies to make a connection. None of the additional factors at play that make someone attractive.

God wants to be in a relationship with us. How does he view us. Just to cover? Just the appearance? health? wealth? status? privilege?

When the Lord looks at us He sees everything. What does he value?

Call story of David clues us in.

EXEGESIS - FROM

The Israelites had called for a king and gotten what they wanted: Saul. Looked good: got lots of “clicks.” It didn’t work out.

God is going to offer them a new king. Sends Samuel to Bethlehem, I’ve selected a new king.

Samuel may have been expecting a replacement Saul. Same basic characteristics. Height, strength, appearance, attitude.

But surprised when arrived. Bethlehem a small town. Jesse aged and poor.

Still Samuel obedient starts the process of finding the new king. Jesse, have your sons pass before me.

So Eliab, eldest. This must be the one. Tall, handsome, charismatic, first born leader.

Lord says, don’t look at the appearance. We are looking for a man after my own heart.

A whole new model of appreciation and evaluation. Not the exterior. The interior. The heart.

Heart is the center of the person. The fundament will of the person that makes them who they are. Looking for one whose heart, center, is oriented toward me.

I gave the people last time what they wanted, what they demanded. Now I am going to give them what I want. The king they really need.

All seven sons pass before Jesse.

No choice. Is this all? Well, there is the youngest.

Child number eight. Not sure how young. Not counted as of age enough to be selected for anything serious, grown up. Out tending the sheep.

We will wait for him. Imagine Samuel feeling quite unsure. Evidently the right kind of heart is a very special thing.

He comes: ruddy (reddish), beautiful eyes, and handsome. Not “wow” factor of Saul or Eliab, but a liveliness, a glow about him, signaling a vibrant heart within.

Lord said: Anoint this one. Astonishment of Samuel, and of David, standing as he was among his brothers, who had more right than he for any kind of selection process — especially to be king!

Except the divine selection process. It works differently.

God chooses David based NOT on birth order or wealth or physical trappings, but on his heart.

God says this is the one.

Samuel anoints him. Oil a symbol of kingship. God’s choice, blessing, empowerment. The spirit rushed upon David. Magnifies that which was already there.

When David fights Goliath, you defy the God of Israel. I come in the Name!

We see David’s heart reflected throughout the psalms, most of which he authored.

Psalm 23. Compares God to a shepherd. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 27. One thing have I desired of the Lord. That will I seek after.

Does not mean he is perfect. Sometimes he fell. Always turned back to God. Psalm 51. Against you God, have I sinned. Cast me not away from your presence. Wash me and I shall be clean. Take not your Holy Spirit from me, restore to me the joy of salvation!

God called David to be the greatest king of Israel because his heart was after God’s heart.

INTERPRETATION - THROUGH

David became the role model for all future kings.

One who could lead the people, by loving God first.

David did not live forever, of course. Lesser kings came after him. When the monarchy failed, exile to Babylon. The expectation of the Messiah: the Son of David. Of the house of David. One day another great king will come, another David. He will rule all the nations, guide all people into the ways of peace. (Luke 1:79)

1,000 years passed. Then...

Matt 1: Angel addressed Joseph, descendent of David. Poor. Out of the way town of Nazareth, whose family came from Bethlehem. The son of your wife Mary will sit on the throne of his father, David.

He is the son of God, too. Fully human and fully God. A heart fully loving.

A heart after God’s own heart....God’s very own heart beating in a human chest.

Like David, Jesus on the outside was a normie. Nothing special about him....elders of Israel: isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t he from just Nazareth?

But on the inside solely committed to love of God and from love of God to love of humanity.

So much so that he went to the cross to absorb the death and judgment that we deserve. David sinned and repented with all his heart: love. Jesus never sinned, but suffered for sinners:love.

no greater love has anyone than that he lay down his life for his friends — Jesus.

God so loved him that he raised him from the dead.

Anointed In the midst of the brothers.

He is the new king. King of eternal life and love.

Most important thing: heart of Jesus. Love for God and others.

APPLICATION - TOWARD

Like David, Like Jesus, God calls us into servant leadership.

We may have health, wealth, status, privilege — None of these automatic admission into divine work.

We may have sickness, poverty, humiliation, and limits — none of these bar us from divine service.

God is looking for something more valuable that outer trappings. He looks on the heart.

Is there love in your heart?

I’m not like Jesus, not like David.

Yet there is love. Desire for God. We dismiss it; God sees it and values it.

Sit on this for a second: God just wants your heart to be filled with love.

So what makes a good friend, family member, etc: love.

What makes a child of God: love.

Isn’t that want we really, really want. To love God, be loved by God. To love others and to be loved by them?

“The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return” — Moulin Rouge

Love is something we can all cultivate.

Example of excellent swimmer. Be like Ryan Lochte

Movie: This is It: Micheal Jackson dancing. Strive to be like him/her.

Love like Jesus. Love one another, as I have loved you.

Prayer, open my heart to love you more, Lord.

Pray for the desire to desire to love God.

When we place our faith in Christ, we trust the promise of God he sees and honors our heart. We become children of God. Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born again of water and the spirit.

Mental:regard others We used to see Christ from a human point of view but no longer. So also with one another. If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.

Emotional: rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Behavioral: let us not meet our own needs only, but do good to others

Paul in First Corinthians 13. The measure of someone is how well do they love?

Delight yourself in the lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all else will be added to you. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. He has shown thee, o man, what is good and what the Lord requires: to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. No mind can conceive what God has prepared for those who love him. God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

Conclusion

On the surface level we may be “normies.” But God sees the heart. God looks deeper than that. He sees all the characteristics, the deepest one that we cannot even see. The one that gets revealed as he chooses us.

Prayer

Lord, as you evaluated David’s heart, so search ours. We open them to you. Grant us deeper love for you than we have ever had before. Let that love lead us.

Prayer of Intercession

We praise and thank you, O Lord, that you have fed us with your Word [and at your table].

Grateful for your gifts and mindful of the communion of your saints, we offer to you our prayers for all people.

God of compassion, we remember before you the poor and the afflicted, the sick and the dying, prisoners and all who are lonely, the victims of war, injustice, and inhumanity, and all others who suffer from whatever their sufferings may be called. [Silence]

O Lord of providence holding the destiny of the nations in your hand, we pray for our country. Inspire the hearts and minds of our leaders that they, together with all our nation, may first seek your kingdom and righteousness so that order, liberty, and peace may dwell with your people. [Silence]

O God the Creator, we pray for all nations and peoples. Take away the mistrust and lack of understanding that divide your creatures; increase in us the recognition that we are all your children. [Silence]

O Savior God, look upon your church in its struggle upon the earth. Have mercy on its weakness, bring to an end its unhappy divisions, and scatter its fears. Look also upon the ministry of your church. Increase its courage, strengthen its faith, and inspire its witness to all people, even to the ends of the earth. [Silence]

Author of grace and God of love, send your Holy Spirit’s blessing to your children here present. Keep our hearts and thoughts in Jesus Christ, your Son, our only Savior, who has taught us to pray:

--Faith Alive Christian Resources; Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition . Faith Alive Christian Resources. Kindle Edition.