Readings for today: 1 Samuel 13-16
1 Samuel 16:7 is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 CSB) What does God see when He looks on your heart? Does He see a heart full of devotion or a heart that’s divided? Does He see a heart that is humble and willing and obedient or a heart that is prideful and resistant and oriented more around self? Does He see a heart full of love and grace or a heart full of anger and hate? Does He see a heart that is quick to forgive or quick to judge?
What does it mean to love God with a “whole” heart? To be fully devoted to Him? Does it mean outward, physical 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 CSB, ”Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.” Humility. Submission. Obedience. These are the qualities on which God places supreme value.
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. 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 God and it eventually cost him everything. The kingdom was literally ripped from his hands. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He ended up tormented and paranoid.
King David was a whole-hearted man. David was a man after God’s own heart though this didn’t make him perfect. In fact, his failures are massive and significant and costly. But through it all, the one thing David consistently does is seek 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 descendants for generations.
Take some time today and honestly examine your heart. Are you half-hearted or whole-hearted in your devotion to Jesus? We’ve already seen that it doesn’t necessarily depend on our outward appearance or achievement or actions. We can’t count on the image we project to the world to save us. We have to be strong and courageous enough to take the inward journey into the heart. What do you find there? What will God see when He looks at you?
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalms 59