HELEN SANDERS
2-8-2024
GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART
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In reading the story of Samuel, we learn that he was the one that anointed the first king, Saul, to be the king of Israel. Samuel loved Saul, but Saul made many mistakes, and the kingdom was taken from him. Saul had the outward appearance of a king, being taller than most men. Yet, this did not make him obedient. He often did things without listening to God. You could say that he was not a man after God’s heart.
After the kingdom was taken from Saul, the Lord spoke to Samuel, who was not just a priest, but also a prophet, and told him to go to the house of Jesse. God had chosen a young man that would follow after God’s own heart. In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel spoke to Saul and said, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
It was too late for King Saul. God was looking for that one that would follow after the Lord’s heart. Samuel goes to the house of Jesse, but reluctantly. In 1 Samuel 16:1, God spoke to Samuel and said, “…How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.”
Samuel goes, but his grief was so deep over Saul that he could not see spiritually what God was doing. He looked at Jesse’s oldest son, and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him,” but God said no, it was not him. Several other of Jesse’s sons came before Samuel and they were not God’s chosen one either. Finally, Samuel said to Jesse, is there anyone else?
Yes, there was. A young boy that was taking care of the sheep. His older brothers were warriors for King Saul, but God was not looking for a warrior. David, the youngest son, had spent much time alone with God taking care of his father’s sheep and communed with God. He had a heart after God. In the natural he did not look like anyone that should be king. But God saw beyond the outside and saw David’s inside, his heart.
Often, we put value on people for the way they look. People marry people for their looks, or their status. Often, they marry because of their money. But we should never determine our choices on these things. Is this person truly hearing from God, like young David? Is their heart right with God? How about you? Are you after God’s own heart? Do you talk to him in the midst of your daily work? Do you talk to him when you wake up, and speak to him when you lie down to sleep? Do you respond to his voice and do what he asks of you? If so, then he will anoint you, like David, to do what his will is through you. You are a person after God’s own heart.
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