How Is Your Heart Today?

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The books of 1 & 2 Samuel tell us the story of Israel’s transition from a group of tribes ruled by judges into a unified kingdom, ruled by King David in Jerusalem. I encourage you to watch the Bible Project videos to get an overview of these stories: 1)1 Samuel;  2) 2 Samuel

I would also draw your attention to a Bible Project article that digs deeper into the significance of King David, not only for Israel, but understanding Jesus as well. We used these materials in our Pastor’s Bible Study this past Wednesday Night.
 
Our Lenten series is focused on Holy Character – the virtues God forms in us as followers of Jesus Christ. We have learned about loyal love from Ruth and attentiveness from Samuel. From David’s story we learn about inner character.
 
The key scripture comes from 1 Samuel 16 where God directs Samuel to Bethlehem to the family of Jesse. One of Jesse’s sons would be the next king. And the first one Samuel saw – Eliab – looked the part. Samuel was sure he was the Lord’s anointed. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7)
 
David was just a kid. He wasn’t tall and handsome like Saul – or even like his older brothers. He didn’t look the part of a king.  But God knew David’s heart. David wasn’t perfect as we learn from the stories in 2 Samuel 11-12. But throughout his life, David reveals his humility, grace, and compassion (see 2 Samuel 9).  He trusts in God implicitly in all circumstances and has patience that the purposes of God will be worked out over time.
 
As the Bible Project notes, Israel never had another king quite like him, with the same combination of incredible talent and extreme humility. He epitomizes the same kind of radical faith that Abraham demonstrated when he looked up at the stars and trusted that God could form an entire nation from him and Sarah (Genesis 15). It’s to this “faith-full” David that God makes his next covenant promise in 2 Samuel 7, one of the most important stories in the Old Testament.
 
That story is the “Davidic Covenant” found in 2 Samuel 7:12-14.  That divine promise becomes the hope of Israel. Even after the kings in the line of David fail to live up to the humble faith of David, even after they run the nation of Israel into the ground and end up in exile, the people still cling to the divine promise. We see the hope in that promise expressed in the prophetic visions of a future messianic king in Isaiah 9 and Isaiah 11. And as Christians, we believe this hope finds it ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
 
God knew David’s heart. And God knows our hearts – our true inner character. We may put up a façade in front of others, but God knows what is really going on within us. 
 
Because here is the thing: sooner or later what is really going on within you will be seen by others. What is truly in your heart won’t stay hidden forever. Eventually, what is in your heart will bear fruit in your life.  In Matthew 7:15-19, Jesus tells us that we are known by our fruits (a good tree can’t produce bad fruit and a rotten tree can’t produce good fruit).  
 
So consider Paul’s words in Galatians 5:16-25 contrasting two different ways of living – one way produced by selfish motives and desires and the other by the Holy Spirit working within us. Which “fruits” are being produced in your life right now?  And what does that tell you about what is going on in your heart?
 
Lent is a good time to have a good, honest, heart-to-heart with God. Do you trust God with your whole heart? Do you trust God with that part of yourself that no one else can see? How is your heart today? Take that to God in prayer.



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