|
God looks at the Heart
(Sermon Notes on 1 Samuel 16:1-13)
Following Saul's victory over the Amalekites, Samuel is commissioned by God to anoint for Him the one He chooses. Firstly though, Samuel offered a sacrifice to God and invited and consecrated Jesse and his sons. Samuel is commanded not to consider the stature or the appearance of Eliab, Jesse's firstborn. Neither is Jesse's second son appointed or the third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh.
Samuel enquires and discovers that Jesse has another son, David who was keeping the sheep. In those times and even today in the Middle East a shepherd is considered to be a lowly occupation. When I was responsible for the welfare of a number of young Muslim men as a support worker I remember an Afghan lad was teased by his housemates as he was formerly a shepherd-boy.
But this shepherd boy, David that is, later became King and he was a type of his greater Son, Jesus also a Bethlehemite, born in a humble town with humble origins not even listed in Joshua's account of conquered territories since it was seemingly insignificant. The Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ is also priest and King who reigns forever in the order of Melchizedek and at His first coming came not to condemn the world but to save whoever would believe in Him and offered Himself as a sacrifice also.
Verse 7 is at the heart of this passage and is critical in comprehending it. ‘But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'
Heart in this context refers to the moral conscience and in Hebrew thought refers to the mind, will, emotions and intellect. It does not refer to the involuntary muscle that pumps the heart of the care bear club! More importantly and I speak for myself here, how often do we evaluate another person by the multitude of external cues on offer-by looks, dress, popularity, charisma, the ability to entertain?
How often are we impressed by might, wisdom or riches? How often does the wretched media project false messages and false impressions based on false values in an attempt to judge a man or a woman by the outward appearance to market or sell something? I have no doubt today's media would have snapped up and idolised Saul with his height, countenance and volatile temper akin to John Mackenroe!
That's not the way God works though! All this world's (and by world I refer to worldviews that rejects Biblical values) vain boasting, pomp and superficiality doesn't impress Him one iota! Thank God that He looks at the inner man! Consider His Son for a moment... ‘He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him' (Isaiah 53:2) And by the way God's not interested particularly in might, humanistic wisdom or riches, what He is interested in is that the one who has to glory, glories in that they understand and know Him! (c.f. Jer 9:24) Why? Because God looks at the inner man, at the heart.
Despite David's good looks and his heroic efforts with lions and bears he would have been considered insignificant in terms of his status prior to his annointing... How many folk would have hedged their bets on David being the man that God would use for His purposes? How many of us think that God will never use us because we are too young, too old, the last and smallest in our families, too small, too poor a spokesperson, too inferior in our occupation, too unconfident or too fearful?
For those who think they are too young, Jeremiah was ordained as a prophet and sanctified before he was born! Samuel the boy priest was probably about 12, David according to most commentaries was around 15. Young Timothy was to be an example to others by his conduct.
For those who think they are too old and have past the sell by date then what about Abraham and Sarah producing offspring and becoming a ‘father' and ‘princess' of nations? What about Zacharias and Elizabeth giving birth to the one who would prepare the way of the Lord?
Too small? Then what about David going up against Goliath? Not a good spokesperson, well even Paul didn't consider himself trained in Greek oratory although obviously not inferior in knowledge! Moses was reminded rhetorically who created man's mouth and God would be with his mouth and teach him what he would say. What about occupation? Well David was a shepherd boy before he was king. What about too fearful? Then what about Gideon? Indeed as the verse in the exact centre of the Bible tells us, it is better to put trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)
What about gender? Well who else could be as wise, faithful and courageous as Abigail and avert the wrath of King David. What about Ruth the great grandmother of David who countered the expectations of her culture and was truly a Godly woman? Or what about Esther who risked life and limb, repected her uncle and honoured God, impressed the king with her character and wisdom in addition to her beauty and through God's help saved the fate of the Jewish people across the ancient empire? And what about Mary? What a song of faith and knowledge of God's word by one so young? Please when you get time read those ten verses and check the numerous cross references in any decent study Bible!
And what about the thrust of this message and how it applies today? The events that occurred in the Old Testament are true, living and real examples and for our admonition also.
- The message in this passage is not about empowerment - it is about trust in God.
- It's not about self-exultation - it is about glorifying God.
- It's not about pride - it is about Godly humility.
- It's not about self esteem - it is about esteeming God highly.
- It's not look at me, I can do everything - it is about I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)
- This life is not about gaining medals - it is about obtaining crowns and casting them at the feet of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Amen! |
