SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 16
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” [1 Samuel 16:7] In this world, the lucky ones are the ones who are good looking, tall, wealthy, without handicap, smart, well-dressed, talented. But with God this stuff is secondary. In God’s world, you can be the opposite of all these ‘advantages’, and still succeed. You can also be any of these things, and succeed. But the key is not the skills or strengths or advantages that you have, but the condition of your heart.
What does God see in my heart? Does he observe sincerity or hypocrisy? Selflessness or selfishness? Greed or generosity? Kindness or cruelty? I may be able to put on a good show (‘outward appearance’) but the Lord looks at the heart. What does He look for? Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God [Matthew 5:8]. I don’t think a pure heart is a sinless heart as much as a sincere heart, one that means well, is sad about weakness and is striving to be better, to be good, to be honest.
God can tell the inclination and the attachments of the heart. He knows where our heart is leaning based on where our lives are leaning. Which way is my heart leaning? Saul did not begin with an evil spirit, he actually began with God’s Spirit [1 Samuel 10:9-10]. But despite a good beginning, he opened himself to pride, to people-pleasing, to love of wealth and pleasure. This made him foolish in relationship to God, and led to disobedience. In effect, he chose the evil spirit over God’s Spirit, so that God’s Spirit left him. He grieved and quenched the Spirit, and subsequently lost the Spirit. And in His absence, other spirits filled the void [Luke 11:24-26].
Meanwhile, David was now filled with the Spirit [1 Samuel 16:13]. The Spirit of God found a welcome place in David’s heart, and as a result the Spirit flowed from David, also through his music. Even Saul sensed the goodness of God’s Spirit in David, and his own troubled spirit was calmed by David’s Spirit-filled presence.
God wants to be in me, to flow through me. But I can resist His Spirit and lose out on all that He has in mind. Doesn’t matter how successful I may be in this world’s estimation, if my heart is not ‘pure’, and God’s Spirit is not in me, I will eventually come undone. My greatest need, our greatest need, is for God’s Spirit to live in us. Everything else flows from there…
PRAYER:
Lord, fill me with Your Spirit, and cleanse me from evil spirits…
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
The Spirit of the Lord God left Saul and it was the gift of music that could temper the evil. David was selected to play for Saul. The selection of David by Samuel was also against what Samuel first thought. Some of David’s brother’s had the appearance and stature of a king but the Lord God had different plans. What does a king need to look like?
All too often we/I am a slow learner. It is what is on the inside that counts. Only God can see that. All too often we go by appearances – even Samuel did that. Only by God’s grace, His Spirit living within His people will His Kingdom come. Come Holy Spirit dwell Thou within my heart.
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me
Break me, melt me, mold me fill me
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.