1 Samuel 16:1-13 God Sees The Heart
Notes
Transcript
God looks at the heart
God looks at the heart
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
“Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.”
So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?”
“Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.
When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” Next Jesse summoned Shimea,* but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.
So let’s look first before we get into the study tonight I want you to see the difference between Saul who was the king before David and David the king. I also want you to see that Saul is not like David in that he is out for himself and not for what God wants him to do. So let’s check out chapter 9 first. 1 Samuel 9:1-2
There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
There is a wealthy and influential man the Bible tells us that Saul comes from money. He is from the tribe of benjamin where David is from the tribe of Judah. He is considered the most handsome man in Israel…he is tall and head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. He is a specimen do you hear me…this guy looks the part of a warrior king. David in contrast is not. He is small and head is the least in his father’s house. He is the guy that is charged with keeping the sheep.
The difference between the two is staggering. Saul tall and all that you think a king should look like and David small and insignificant little guy. Saul also sinned against God….One instance of this and I won’t cover them all because we just don’t have time I want to get to David being chosen tonight…in Chapter 13 we see where Saul sacrificed to the Lord.
He was not interested in following God only in being victorious in battle. He thought that just because a sacrifice was made that God would give him victory. The issue is he wanted the victory for himself and glory for himself not for God. He did not care how he got victory only that he got victory.
Nothing that we do in this life should be done for us to get the credit for it. Every single thing that I do is so that God can get the glory and get the credit for whatever I do.
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
Samuel was lamenting Saul’s rejection. He wanted Saul to be king and he likely had been spending a good amount of time in prayer asking God to please forgive Saul and let him remain as king.
Does our prayers affect God’s judgement? No what God has decided is decided.
Do our prayers allow God to overlook evil that we or someone else does? No God cannot overlook evil or sin.
God has already decided that Saul only had a heart for Saul and that he was not to be the king of Israel any longer. His judgement was final and he tells Samuel to get up and get rolling with the plan. God says enough is enough get up and go where I tell you I have selected my king.
Now we know that David was already talking to God and we will prove that later when we get further along in this story. You will see that even at this time at this young age David is talking to God and that God is blessing David even before he is named as the king of Israel.
When Samuel arrives at guess where….Bethlehem…that’s right now I ain’t saying that this is Messianic in nature but I find it strange that the town where David is anointed king in the place where THE King of all kings is born…..so Samuel arrives and David’s dad did not even invite him to the dinner so that should be a clue right.
David’s dad did not understand his strength or bravery…he was the least and not only that he was doing the lowliest job of the family……so when Samuel sees the first son he thinks to himself “surely this is the one.” Look what God tells Samuel in verse 7 1 Samuel 16:7
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.”
“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature because I have rejected him” God does not see what we see. We can’t see someone’s heart like God can. We can see the outward effects of heart convictions but we cannot truly ever know someone’s heart.
3. Why is it important for us not to judge by appearances?
4. Will my witness change based on my judgement of someones supposed character?
The most important part here is that Samuel was tuned in to God and he was being obedient. When God told him not to judge he went through the rest of the sons of Jesse looking and listening for God to speak to him about who God wanted.
So Samuel goes through all the other sons and then asks David’s dad is this all of them. Again David’s dad did not understand the character of his youngest son. He did not know the bravery or the strength that his youngest possessed.
Scripture here contrasts David and Saul….1 Samuel 16:12
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.”
He was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome…..it is important to mention here that Josephus a Jewish historian says that David was ten years old while other historians say that he was older likely around fifteen years old.
He was small in comparison to Saul he was younger than Saul and not the one that anyone else would pick to be the king of Israel. God does not make His decisions based on what we think. In verse 13 it says that he was anointed not only by Samuel but by God as well…..1 Samuel 16:13
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. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David and from that day forward. David was consecrated by Samuel but most importantly he was consecrated by God to be the king. This is where it all begins. We see where if it were left up to looks or to what man thought David would not have been chosen.
You were chosen by God. No matter what man thinks about you God has chosen you for a purpose and He has a plan for you and your life…..
Real life application:
Stay in prayer asking God what He wants.
Don’t judge by appearances God sees the heart.
As we will see as we go through the life of David….when our heart is for the Lord we will be blessed in all that we do even when we wander from the path.
