Readings for today: 1 Samuel 13-16
"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature...for the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)
What does it mean to love God with a “whole” heart? To be fully devoted to Him? To make Him our first love? Does it mean outward perfection? King Saul literally stood head and shoulders above his countrymen. (1 Sam. 10:23) Eliab, David’s older brother, clearly was an impressive physical specimen. (1 Sam. 16:6) Does it mean achievement or success? I am sure God could easily have lined up a hundred other men who had accomplished a heck of a lot more than David. Is it based on wealth or privilege? Or perhaps great moral character? What kind of heart does God treasure in a man or woman? The key is found in 1 Sam. 15:22-23..."Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.” Humility. Submission. Obedience. These are the qualities on which God places supreme value. Are we willing to listen? Willing to follow? Willing to surrender our plans in favor of God’s plan for our lives? Are we willing to trust God even when our circumstances seem bleak? Are we willing to obey even when it’s hard?
King Saul was a half-hearted man. Though he was chosen by God and instructed by Samuel in the “rights and duties” of godly kingship, his heart was divided. At times, Saul was faithful and found great success. At other times, he was unfaithful and found only heartbreak. In times of conflict, Saul seemed to trust in God and therefore win victory after victory. In times of preparation or peace, Saul seemed to forget God and trust in his own understanding. The unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal. A rash vow during the heat of battle. A refusal to devote the Amalekites to destruction. These events illustrate the half-hearted devotion Saul paid to Yahweh and it eventually cost him everything. The kingdom was literally ripped from his hands. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. And he ended up tormented and paranoid.
King David was a whole-hearted man. As we will see as we keep reading, David was a man after God’s own heart. This doesn’t make him perfect. His failures are massive and significant and costly. But through it all, David keeps seeking after God. David keeps humbling himself before God. David keeps returning to God in repentance. And God loves David. Honors David. Promises to give the throne to his descendents for generations.
We are living in difficult times. Times like these test us. Refine us. Cause us to step back and take stock of our lives. So let’s engage in a little self-examination. How’s your heart? Are you half-hearted or whole-hearted in your love for Jesus? Do you find yourself longing for the gathering of the saints? Missing the opportunity to worship alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ? Is your heart drawn to prayer and Scripture during this season? Are you talking to God more or less? Are you spending more time with Him or less time? Do you find yourself searching for ways to serve? The lost and wandering? The least resourced and under privileged? Those who are most vulnerable to this pandemic? What’s the state of your emotions? Are you anxious and afraid? Are you weighed down by the burdens of this world? Do you find yourself struggling to get out of bed each morning? Jesus invites you to come to Him to find rest. Have you accepted His invitation? Jesus invites you to cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. Are you willing to let go? Jesus promises to be with you always. In the midst of dark valleys. In the midst of all the pain and suffering of this life. He is near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit, reaching out His hand. Are you reaching back? Friends, in this time of crisis, we’ve been forcibly reminded of how little control we have in this life. Our strength is not enough. Our wisdom has thus far failed. Our power and wealth afford us no protections. We can’t count on these things to save us. Instead we must turn to God. With our whole hearts. Trusting His grace to carry us through.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalms 59