Week 18 Day 3 – A Different Perspective
1 Chronicles 28:1-21
There are two observations from today’s reading. The first comes from a biblical studies perspective and is designed to help you grow in your handling of scripture. The second comes from a pastoral, devotional perspective, designed to help you in your spiritual formation.
It was mentioned in the introduction that the Chronicler had a very different perspective on the history of Israel than the writer of Samuel and Kings. This difference is most evident in relationship to the building of the Temple. In the Samuel/Kings account, it is mentioned that David desired to build the Temple, but that it was Solomon who was the real mastermind behind the construction. According to the Chronicler it was actually David who did all the work for the Temple construction -- plans, preparations, and financing -- while Solomon simply executed his father’s instructions.
First of all, let us be clear. This apparent discrepancy does not mean that the Bible contradicts itself. When you match up both stories you will see that both are accurate and true, but are told from different perspectives. The writer of Samuel and Kings was trying to show the sovereignty and grace of God in spite of the wickedness of His people. Therefore, he hung out all the dirty laundry of the royal families for the world to see. The Chronicler, on the other hand, leaves out all the nastiness in an effort to show how God was preserving His plans for the Temple and proper worship throughout the generations.
The perspective of the Chronicler on the role of Solomon in the construction of the Temple actually solves a great mystery that was created by the account of 1 Kings; how could such a wise man fall so far away from God?
In 1 Kings Solomon asks God for a discerning heart, and it appears that, as a result of this discerning heart Solomon comes up with these wonderful plans for the Temple. While it doesn’t specifically say that, the flow of the story definitely implies it. At the height of Solomon’s glory it seems that he is the wisest, most godly man to have ever lived. Then, in a whiplash-inducing reversal, Solomon takes a nose-dive off the cliff of paganism and never recovers. How could this happen to a man with such wisdom?
The Chronicler makes it clear. Solomon was just the "wrist" in the building of the Temple. He was just the physical means to get the job done, but not the heart and soul behind it. Solomon asked for a discerning heart, and God gave it to him, but what if he never really used it to its full potential? It seems that, throughout Solomon’s entire career, his wisdom was more externally focused. He became enraptured in science, art, politics, architecture, and Temple building, but, perhaps, he never really had a heart for God. Notice that he spent 7 years to build the Temple, but 14 to build his own house. He loved women, power, and money.
If the plans for the Temple were truly a gift from the Spirit to David, and Solomon was just the physical means to accomplish the job, then it makes more sense why he could have strayed so far away from the heart of God and the true purpose of the Temple. It also makes sense why he is repeatedly warned by his father and the Lord to keep his heart focused and not get distracted.
Look at v. 9 again. David told Solomon to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and with a willing mind because the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. Yikes! Let’s ponder that for a moment.
The phrase "every motive behind the thoughts" is literally translated "the formation, or the root source, behind the thinking process." The term translated "formation" comes from pottery and is used to describe what a potter does to clay when making a pot.
This same phrase is found in Genesis 6:5
"The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the Earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."
This verse was the explanation for why God was justified in sending the great flood to destroy the human population.
David was warning Solomon that God sees past all our smoke screens, pleasantries, and Christian nice-nice, and knows what we are really all about. We can’t fool Him.
Here’s the bottom line. God didn’t care how wonderful Solomon looked on the outside. It was the "formation of his thoughts" that would be the measuring stick for God. David was a man after God’s own heart because the Spirit of the Lord had His hands on the raw clay of David’s mind. What do the hands look like that are forming your thoughts today?
Week 18 Day 2 – A Musical Production
1 Chronicles 23:1-5; 25:1
There are two observations from today’s reading:
1. Different people have different tasks. One of the greatest lessons that any group of people can learn is that it takes a plurality of leadership and an interconnection of disciplines to be healthy. In the church, specifically, it is a natural tendency for the leader to feel that he has to do everything, to carry the burden of all responsibilities, and to be the servant to all. While the leader should always maintain a servant’s heart, it is ludicrous to believe that one person could be good at and accomplish all the tasks that need to happen to shepherd a healthy church community. Look at what David did. He divided up the responsibilities into four basic areas: construction supervisors, judicial overseers, gatekeepers/protectors, and musicians. These four functions are radically different and require very different skill sets to perform well. If the community of God is to be healthy, then it needs to be diversified in its duties and delegated in the carrying out of those duties.
2. Musicians were in equal status with everyone else. This observation stands out because a) I am an artist and am always combing scripture for validation, and b) it runs contrary to our culture’s pragmatic attitude toward leadership. In our society, when times get tough the "fluffy stuff" gets thrown out first. And what is the fluffy stuff? Art. This is very evident in the school systems, both public and private. When there is no money, art class is the first thing to get cut. Most Christian schools don’t even have art classes because they can’t be justified in the budget. This is a tragedy and, I believe, brings grief to the heart of God. We were created in the image of God. God is a creator and we were designed to be creative and imaginative. If our society was nothing more than construction workers, politicians, and policemen, then it would become dull, boring, and not worth building, governing, or protecting. David established the musicians as the fourth corner of the leadership edifice because he knew that it was through the arts that windows to the eternal mind of God can be opened, allowing the life-giving light of His glory to bring the dullness of everyday life into full color.
There are two questions for you today. First, do you know your place in the body of Christ? And, second, are you actualizing your place in the body of Christ. Whatever you were designed to do, that is what God expects you to do for Him.
Week 17 Day 5 – Listen to the Trees
1 Chronicles 14:8-17
Recently I had a chance to interact with a business man who started his own business twenty years prior and had built it up to being an international success. As he was talking about his life he mentioned that in the next ten days he was going to be in two different states and a European country. I asked him how that kind of travel impacted his family. With that question the look in his eyes betrayed the fact that a deep chord had been struck. In a strained voice he described how his second wife of one year did not like the situation at all. His only response was, "hey, she got to play in a big city for four days in the nicest hotel...for free. She has to choose...if you want to play, you have to pay." As I watched this man operate for two days it became apparent that there was something attached to his shoulder, whispering in his ear, driving him to make the next deal, at any cost. The eyes of this driven man seemed tired and lost.
In contrast, I had a conversation with another man who has been on a heart-journey over the past few years and has come to a place of turning his career and goals over to the Lord. He wakes up every day and says, "Good morning Lord, what is the plan for today?" With a genuine peace in his eyes, he reports that his family life has never been better, and that, by committing to leave the office at a set time each day and not overwork, he is actually more productive at the office when he is there. He has taken his eyes off of physical goals and has seen the spiritual dynamics at play in every aspect of life. The wonderfully ironic part of the story is that he has had a better year financially than he has ever before experienced.
In the 1980’s, Gordon McDonald wrote a book titled, Ordering Your Private World. One of the most compelling parts of that book is when he discusses the difference between being driven and being led. When someone is driven it is as if something inside of them, or behind them, is sticking them with a red hot cattle prod, whispering into their ear, "if you do not jump on this opportunity right now, you will be a big, fat failure. You must move now and create your own destiny." While on the other hand, a person who is led has placed her destiny into the hands of God and is always in a spirit of receptivity, keeping her eyes on God and waiting until it is clear that God has said to move ahead. This is the story of the two men we have discussed above; one was driven, one was led.
In today’s reading we see an excellent example of what made David a man after God’s own heart. Whenever David went into battle, he would always first inquire of the Lord, even when the battle seemed like a no-brainer. In this particular battle against the Philistines, notice how God instructs David. "When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees" then you can go in. It’s as if the army of God was marching out before David, and he was simply to follow behind and claim the victory.
It would do us well to remember this basic lesson that is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. The battle belongs to the Lord. Too many times well-meaning Christians experience defeat in battle because they violated this basic principle. They may be battling for a noble cause, but they have not waited on the Lord. Too many times we see a problem and we use our human wisdom and problem-solving skills to rush in and fix it. We do this "in the name of the Lord," but in reality we are doing it in our own strength. While our motives may be right at first glance, our timing may be way off.
This week, let’s make sure we take the time to pray and ask God for guidance and wisdom before making decisions. Let’s get the driver out from behind us and fall in step with the Shepherd who is in front of us leading us to the place we need to go.
Week 14 Day 4 – A Last Look at David
2 Samuel 24:1-25
If you have read this chapter carefully you are probably scratching your head and asking, "If God asked David to take the census, then why does he get mad at him?" Part of the answer to that question can be found in the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 21:1 where the author states that Satan rose against Israel and incited David to take the census. Here are a couple of points to keep in mind when trying to sort out this difficult passage.
2 Samuel tells us that God was angry with the Israelites...again. Whenever God was angry with the people it means that they were running off into sin again and were in need of punishment. We aren’t told exactly what the sin was, so that must not be the point of the chapter, but we can be sure that God’s actions toward them was justified.
- Satan was the one who actually tempted David to take the census. James tells us that God does not tempt people. (James 1:13)
- God was in control of allowing Satan to tempt David. This verse sounds a lot like the opening scene of Job when God allows Satan to mess with Job’s life. Why? In order to test Job. Here, too, we see God putting David and the nation to the test.
- David was the one who is ultimately responsible for having taken the census. Even his commander, Joab (who has not been a very noble character in the story), warned David to not do this sinful act. Yet, David persisted in taking a head count of all the fighting men.
In light of these points, we can conclude that God did not force David to sin, He simply allowed David an opportunity to choose God’s way or the world’s way in order to test David’s heart. David failed the test and then had to suffer the consequences.
I believe the purpose of chapter 24, in the scheme of the entire book, is to serve as a summary and a synopsis of the whole story of David’s life and why, even after sinning, David was considered a man after God’s own heart. From this summary we can also see a pattern for our own lives.
Every day we are faced with temptations that press our "self" buttons. For David it was the temptation to take stock in his powerful position and to take comfort in the fact that he was well-armed for battle. Each one of us has a different blind spot in which the enemy can attack and cause us to turn from God and worship the god of our own creation.
- No matter how much success has been experienced in the past regarding a yielded heart, no one is exempt from succumbing to temptation. David certainly proved this to be true. First he fell with Bathsheba, now we see him falling with the census. Be careful if you think that you have it under control because you, in your own strength, don’t. Only through daily submission to God’s protection and strength will you stand firm against sin.
- A godly heart cannot stay long in the camp of sin. In v. 10 the NIV states that David was "conscience-stricken" by what he had done. The literal translation of the Hebrew says that his heart hit him with a strong blow (the KJV says "David’s heart smote him"). Here is one of the marks of David that demonstrated that he had a heart after God’s own heart. Deep down inside, David knew that what he was doing was not right. When we are characterized by having a godly heart, the Holy Spirit will not allow us to remain in a sinful state. As soon as we commit an offense against God the Holy Spirit will bring it to our attention. A heart that is not seeking for God has become calloused to the Spirit and does not even notice when it has offended God.
- A godly heart is quick to confess sin, repent from it, and submit to whatever God’s response to that sin may be.
- Sin always brings consequences. David’s census-taking brought about an intense plague on the nation for three days. In our lives, even if the sin was a momentary slip in a life characterized by obedient following, there will still be consequences. One harsh word spoken will still sting and leave a mark. One unguarded moment will start a chain reaction that will have ripple effects through your community. Don’t fall into the "just-this-once" game of rationalization. It only takes once to unravel the whole deal.
- It always comes back to worship. The final word on David in 2 Samuel was that he built an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. At first glance it may seem that this was not that big of a deal, but there are two important aspects to this story that we must look at. First, this altar was built on the spot that the temple would be built by David’s son, Solomon. David was the first to establish the worship of God in a centralized place in Jerusalem. This act would impact the nation for millenium. Secondly, David summarizes the heart and soul of worship when he says, "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." How many times do we give to God of our time, treasure, and talent out of the left-overs in our life. We work hard all week on our stuff, and then, if there is anything left we throw it to God, as we would throw the table scraps to the family pet. God doesn’t want that. God wants the BEST of ALL that we are. He wants our hearts.
David was a man after God’s own heart, not because he was perfect, but because he was authentically committed to worshipping God in all that He did. He was honest with God and with himself. When he had victory, He gave glory to God. When he messed up he admitted it, repented, and submitted to the authority and discipline of God.
As you move into today, ask yourself what aspect of your life needs to become more like David’s.
Week 14 Day 2 – Facing the Music
Here is another recurring theme in our devotionals. Hosea said it best in Hosea 8:7, "they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind."
Our behavior has consequences. When we sow to the Spirit and yield ourselves to God’s will, then the fruit of the Spirit will grow in our heart. (Galatians 6:9) In the same way, when we sow to the flesh, then the wild seeds of weeds will be scattered in the garden of our heart and nasty stuff will pop up overnight and do serious damage.
David’s life was no different. David’s sin brought about intense consequences in his family and in the nation. His children were divided, his nation was divided, and his throne was threatened.
I believe it is important to pause at this moment and make a very important point. The consequences that David suffered in chs. 13-20 were not the result of the one sin with Bathsheba. I’m not saying that that one sin did not deserve harsh consequences, because it did. I’m saying that the consequences are rooted deeper into David’s life and into the entire heritage of the nation. One of the key sins that produced so much pain was the distorted view of women in the culture. Had the men of Israel not treated women like cattle, taking multiple wives and concubines, there would not have been the division and rivalry amongst the half-brothers. Also, had the nation not begged for a king, the inevitable treachery that swirls around every human throne would have not happened. Remember that Samuel warned them that these events would come. Treachery, pain, murder, and warfare are part in parcel with a human monarchy. That’s what power does to any person. The division of Israel was inevitable. David’s sin with Bathsheba just became a catalyst for the crumbling of the shoddy foundation upon which the nation was built. These consequences were the results of generations of disobedience to God.
We have talked a lot about consequences in past devotionals. Simply put, the message is this, if we repent from our sin and are restored in fellowship with God, that does not remove consequences. If you lost brain cells from drugs, they’ll still be gone after salvation. If you’ve had a child out of wedlock, the child will still be there after salvation. If you’ve been divorced and the children are in pain, they’ll still be hurting children of a broken marriage after salvation. Enough said.
The point for today is found in David’s attitude towards these consequences. How do we typically respond when we reap what we sow? We tend to get bent out of shape and start shaking a rebellious fist at God, saying, "How could you do this to me? A loving God wouldn’t do this." Or, we implode in shame and depression, saying, "Yes, I deserve this punishment, I might as well not go on living."
Look what David did. In 2 Samuel 15:25-26, when he was fleeing from Jerusalem for his life, David said, "If God wants me back in Jerusalem, then I’ll go back. If not, then I won’t." Then, when Shimei was hurling stones and insults at him, David said, "Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to."
Here again we see why David was considered a man after God’s own heart. David took the consequences of his sin in the same way that he took the adversity and the victories he had experienced before the sin with Bathsheba. He accepted the consequences with an open spirit, realizing that he was in God’s hands, was God’s servant, and was willing to take whatever God wanted to give him. He didn’t fight back in resentment and he didn’t crumble in shame. He submitted his heart to the will of God and humbly and courageously followed wherever God took him.
Let us never forget two important lessons:
- There are always consequences for sin, so think twice before you do something stupid.
- The attitude of a godly heart remains the same regardless of circumstances. Our attitude should always be one of humble submission to God’s plan.
Week 14 Day 1 – Get Off the Porch!
2 Samuel 7:8-16; 11:1-12:25
The most glaring and obvious question for today is, "How can a man who was so close to God that God would make an eternal promise with him plummet so quickly into the depths of such blatant sin?"
The answer to this important question can be found in 1 Samuel 11:1, "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war...David remained in Jerusalem." The problem is that David had fallen into the "success syndrome". Up to this point in his life David had been very spiritually and politically successful. Let’s take a moment and recount his success story:
- Defeats Goliath: Faith and courage.
- Spares Saul: Humility, submission, and patience.
- Made king, but loves Ish-bosheth: Mercy and compassion.
- Defeats Philistines: Faith and courage
- Brings ark to Jerusalem: A true worshipper of God.
The Davidic Covenant. Chapter 7 is significant enough of a chapter that we need to take a break and look at it closely. One of God’s patterns throughout all of the Bible is that He made specific promises to specific people along the way that all built upon each other. He promised Adam that one would come to crush the serpent’s heel. He promised Noah that He would never flood the Earth again. He promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation and that all nations would be blessed through him. He promised Moses that obedience to God’s heart and Law would bring blessing. Now He is promising David that He would do great things for him and through him.
God promised David that he would...
- make his name great
- give him rest from his enemies
- establish a house for him
- raise up offspring to succeed him
- make his house and kingdom endure forever. Luke 1:32; Ezekiel 34:23-24;
This was an unconditional promise that God made to David, meaning that no matter what David did, God would still keep his word. parts 1-4 of the promise came true in David’s life. His name was great and still is great to this day. David did get to enjoy some peace in his lifetime, since he had conquered pretty much everyone around him. His house was established and his son, Solomon, did rise to the throne and build a temple in Jerusalem. part 5 of the promise is the most significant. David’s family would be an eternal kingdom. That is being fulfilled right now. Jesus came from the line of David and He sits on the throne of the Kingdom of God eternally.
You can see how each covenant God makes narrows the field and becomes more specific. in Adam’s promise, the Messiah could have come from any human family. In Abraham’s promise, the Messiah could only come from an Israelite family. In David’s, the Messiah could only come from the line of David.
- Defeats enemies: A mighty warrior.
- Loves Mephibosheth: A keeper of promises.
So, after all that truly godly behavior and fruitful victory, how can he become an adulterer, a liar, a thief, and a murderer? It is important to understand that the Bible does not directly say this, but it is not much of a stretch to place into David’s mind the reasoning that allowed him to remain at home when it was time to go to war. He may have been thinking, "You know what, I have been working hard for God for many years now. I deserve a break. After all, God has just made an eternal covenant with me. What could possibly go wrong?" There it is, just like a prize fighter who let’s his guard down in the 11th round, David let his guard down for a moment, walked out onto the porch, and set eyes on a beautiful woman. You know the rest of the story.
In the early 90’s there was a prominent pastor on the east coast that had a similar experience. He had written books that had impacted millions and was on the regular preaching circuit. One day, when being interviewed by a Christian magazine, he was asked what was his greatest strength. His response was, "My fidelity to my wife." Within one year that man had an affair that rocked the Christian world.
Here are some points to remember for today:
- Our victories are God’s victories, not ours. For a brief moment David forgot that all the amazing things that he had done came from the power of God working through his submitted heart, not through his own strength. We need to make sure we don’t start taking credit for the fruit that God is producing in our lives. That is a sure way to turn that fruit sour over night.
- The enemy doesn’t take a vacation. As wearisome as it may sound, the battle for our souls and our allegiances never stops raging. Every day we must wake up and strap on the armor of God. Yes, we need to take a break and refresh our souls, that is a part of the plan. But, refreshing our souls happens when we climb deeper into the safety of God’s heart, not when we go play on the porch for a while.
- No one is exempt from sin. Everyone can fall in an unguarded moment. Never, for one minute, believe that you are "above" something. The greatest killer of Christian warriors is when they start believing that it is their own skin that is impervious to the enemy’s darts rather than the armor of God that has been protecting them the whole time.
- Guard your heart, every day. Once again, it comes down to this simple lesson. Every day we need to wake up and pray the simple prayer, "Kill me, Fill me, Spill me. Lord, in my own flesh and in my own wisdom I am weak. Please let me get out of the driver’s seat of my life and die to the desires of my own flesh. Please fill me with your Spirit today, wash me clean, and overflow in the kind of ministry that you want to do through me for your glory." This attitude will be the shield that protects your heart from taking a nose-dive off the porch of sin.
Week 13 Day 5 – A Focused Heart
2 Samuel 3:30-32
I was recently reading about the formation of the United States of America. One of the big debates the newly formed Senate had, believe it or not, was how to address their new leader, George Washington. Should it be "His Excellency" or "Your High and Mightiness." We, in our day, tend to forget how very British the colonists still were at that time. They were used to a Monarch who was perceived as having received his position by the will of God and was to be treated as higher and of a different nature than the common man. But, through the influence of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and others, the Senate was reconnected to the ideals of a government by the people and for the people. The President was simply a common man that had been elected to provide leadership for the democratic government, and thus should be addressed as simply, "Mr. President."
When we look into the heart of David, we realize that it was this same kind of an attitude that was part of the reason that he was considered a man after God’s own heart. As you read through today’s chapters, you could see these attitudes in the way that David perceived his rivals and his own position.
His attitudes seem foreign to us as we sit and watch the political world (at every level from church office to the UN) engaged in a climb to power and a jockeying for position. David’s success was due to his understanding that he did not have any power. The throne did not belong to him, it was God’s. He was simply the human vehicle through which God could lead His people. In a sense, David would have preferred to have been addressed as "Mr. King"
As we conclude this week of study in which we have examined the heart of a hero, here are some further observations as to why David was a man after God’s own heart:
1. He didn’t take matters into his own hands. When the nation was divided and his "brothers" were trying to usurp the authority that he knew God had given to him, David never retaliated. He didn’t take Saul’s life in the past, and in these stories he did not take the life of Abner or Ish-bosheth. He always waited upon God’s timing to bring things in to place. If they happened, they happened, if they did not, then, hey, there’s always shepherding!
2. He truly loved his rivals. Not only did he not retaliate against his rivals, he actually embraced his rivals and loved them. How many times do we look at the "competition" and love them? The only reason we feel competition with people is because we are trying to hold onto something for ourselves. When we let go of power, prestige, position, and perks, then we can truly love and embrace those who would otherwise be pitted against us.
3. He maintained proper perspective. David knew that being a king was not about him. Being a king was about being a servant and a protector of the people. This lesson would do us well to hold onto in the church. The world wants to tell us that being a leader is an achievement to seek out. It is the top of the heap. It is a place, that once achieved, demands the respect and service of others. Not so in God’s Kingdom. The path to greatness and the road to leadership is a downward climb into the ranks of the common slave. A leader is a servant. A shepherd of a church needs to have a towel around the waist and be ready to wash the proverbial feet of all who enter that space. David knew that by being "on top" he was stuck in the mud, being the foundation upon which the community could be built.
4. He stayed real. At heart, David was a simple shepherd boy who loved to worship God through music. When he led the ark into Jerusalem, he didn’t put on the pomp and piety of a "holy man" or a "regal king." He got real and worshipped God the way he had probably always done out there in the open pastures with no one to see but the sheep. He danced wild and free knowing that, in spite of the throng of thousands lining the streets of Jerusalem, he was dancing for an audience of only One. This attitude cost him his reputation and good standing with his wife. Sometimes authenticity at this level can be misunderstood, and it may lead to tension, but, if it is real, and done in the right motive, it is worth the risk.
Week 13 Day 4 – Who You Gonna Call?
1 Samuel 28:4-20; 30:1-31
When life throws difficult circumstances your way, where do you turn for wisdom and direction? Hopefully, as a follower of Jesus, your automatic answer to that question would be that you turn to God in prayer. You reach out to God for help. That’s good, but there is a second and deeper question. In what spirit do you reach out to God? Do you have in your mind what you want God to do, so, in approaching Him, you lay out a list of demands and say, "OK, God, this situation stinks and here’s what I think you should do about it." Unfortunately, too many times we slip into that mode. We probably do not consciously think in such brash terms, but deep down we really do have an agenda that we want God to follow.
In today’s readings we see this point illustrated in yet another heart contrast between Saul and David. Saul was faced with an oppressive enemy. He became afraid and cried out to God. You can read between the lines that he was crying out to God to deliver him from this enemy. But what did God do? How did He respond? God responded with silence. God did not give the answer that Saul had expected or desired. Up to this point Saul has done nothing wrong. Actually, he has done things right. He approached God with his request. Where he went wrong and exposed the true nature of his heart is what he did with God’s response. Saul rejected God’s response. He said, "I do not accept that response, so I am going to find another means of getting what I want." Saul’s desire to see his own will be done was so strong that it led him to violate not only God’s Laws, but his own laws as well. Saul had expelled the spiritual mediums out of the country. Now, he was consulting one himself. This was the final straw for Saul and his own inquiry into the realm of the paranormal prophesied his own imminent doom.
David, on the other hand, exposed a very different attitude. Imagine the feeling in David’s heart when he mounted the final rise and saw the smoldering ashes of what was once his home. In that moment a thousand thoughts of terror must have been racing through his mind. Where are my wives? Where are my children? Will I see their burned bodies impaled on a pike? Will the raiders return for more? Who did this? Why did this happen? Where was God when this happened?
For the typical warrior-type person, the first gut response to this travesty and heinous violation would have been to find out who had done this, hunt them down, and pay back blow for blow the violence they had perpetrated on your people. But not David. What was the first thing he did? He said, "Where’s the priest? I need to consult with God. Lord," he asked, "should I pursue the perpetrators, or is there something I am missing in this situation?" What is amazing about this is that the godly response to this event seems like it was so evident; he needed to go rescue his family. Yet, even in a situation that seemed like a no-brainer, David stopped and asked first.
Here is the heart of David. David saw himself as a servant of God. This village, and even his family, did not belong to him. Everything belonged to God and everything that was done needed to be done as a result of God’s direction and for His glory.
This point is further illustrated in the second part of the story. After David gets permission to pursue the perpetrators, and after he acquires all the plunder from their villages (which, in those days, was his rightful compensation for a victorious battle), look what he does with it. Does he say, "Now I have been repaid for what was taken from me? This is mine and is my just reward?" No. He says, "Hey everybody, look at the bounty that God has provided for us. Here, take some."
Here are a couple of quick observations about David’s heart. It would do us well to pattern our heart after this.
1. David’s heart was focused on God, not himself.
2. David’s concern was for his nation, his community, not himself.
3. David’s heart was a generous, giving, other-oriented heart.
The next time you are faced with a difficult situation, do a heart check. Are you approaching God with an agenda? If He doesn’t fulfill the expectations of your agenda, are you going to "take your ball and go home." In that moment, remember David. Remember that this situation, as bad as it may seem, is actually within the boundaries of God’s control. He has the agenda, not you. Come to Him with a receiving heart, ready to hear His plan, and then to obey no matter what it costs.
Week 13 Day 1 – A Tale of Two Hearts
1 Samuel 15:1-35; 17:1-58
As with all good stories, the early scenes set the stage for what is to come. In these two chapters we get to peek into the heart of the two main characters in this drama. On the one hand we see Saul, the current king of Israel. On the other hand we see David; a simple shepherd boy who will one day be king. By placing these two stories side by side we can see how the trajectories of each man’s journey has been set.
The heart of the matter is just that...the heart. Later on, David would write the words of Psalm 42:1, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” In these two stories we see that what was in the heart of each man is what overflowed and set their destinies.
In chapter 15 we see that Saul’s heart was filled with himself. Previously, back in chapter 13, we saw that Saul had a hard time following directions. In that chapter he became impatient with Samuel and made the sacrifice for the battle by himself, thus violating God’s Law. In this chapter we see Saul thinking that he didn’t have to obey God’s instructions exactly. God had told him to completely wipe out the Amalekites (cleaning up after Joshua’s unfinished business). Instead, Saul saved the really good stuff.
Saul made two fatal mistakes:
1. He did a right thing for the wrong reasons. Saul claimed that he saved the best of the booty so that he could sacrifice it to God. That sounds really spiritual. After all, didn’t God demand that the Israelites bring the first fruits of everything to God? Wasn’t it noble of Saul to think about God in that way? No. It wasn’t. It was disobedient.
Many times we can do things that seem really “good,” but the reasons we are doing them are very distorted. If we do “good” things so that others will notice and recognize how spiritual or holy we are, then we have just made that good thing into a sinful thing. Samuel summarized very well how God feels about this in vv. 22 when he said, “to obey is better than sacrifice.”
2. He shifted blame when he was caught. Saul got caught in our society’s favorite pastime: the Blame Game. Truly, the passing of the buck is one of the most fundamental elements of the sinful human nature. It is the first effect that disobedience had on human nature. When Adam was accused of eating the forbidden fruit, the first thing he did was point a big, fat finger at “the woman you gave me.” Not only was he blaming Eve, he was blaming God for giving the temptress to him!
Isn’t that the logic we use all the time? “If you hadn’t invited me out to dinner, I would have never ordered that gigantic dessert and eaten it all myself.” “If you hadn’t sold me the gun, I would have never shot that guy.” “It’s your fault I burned myself; you didn’t tell me the coffee was hot!”
It is one thing to commit a sin. It is a far worse offense to deny the sin and try to shift the blame. Had Saul simply humbled himself, admitted that he had messed up, and asked God to forgive him, then perhaps things would have been different. Notice that at the end of the chapter he does try to repent. God did not believe him, however, because Saul was not sorry that he had disobeyed. He was sorry that he was going to lose the throne. There is a big difference.
When the young shepherd boy steps into the picture we see a very different situation. In chapter 17 we read one of the most famous stories of all time. A young teenage shepherd, armed only with a slingshot, brings down the best fighting machine that the Philistines had to offer.
Why was David able to defeat this giant? What made David different than Saul?
1. He had proper humility. Humility is a very misunderstood word. When you read David’s words in vv.24-37 it appears that he is a cocky little guy. “I killed the bear, and I killed the lion. Look how great I am!” But wait a minute. Is that really what he said? Yes, David did say, “I killed the lion and the bear,” but he finished by saying, “the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Humility is not saying that you can’t do anything. Humility is being bold enough to speak truthfully about the gifts that God has given you, giving credit to Him, and not being afraid to use them.
2. He knew the source of his strength. The key to David’s success was his authentic proclamation, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty!” The key to a successful life in the Kingdom of God is to always remember that your heart is a conduit for God’s work to be done. As soon as you think you have the strength and ability to do what you think is right, then you will become like Saul and get hardening of the spiritual arteries, a blockage, and have a spiritual cardiac arrest. We must always have David’s attitude and remember that the battle is God’s. If God has truly asked you to do something, then you need to do it, keep your heart open, and let God do His mighty work through you.
Throughout the rest of this week we will see that David’s heart continues to grow for God and Saul’s heart continues to shrivel. As you read through the daily readings, keep a mental (or even an actual) comparison chart between Saul and David. Ask yourself, “what made David a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)?”
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