1 Samuel 16:7 “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Integrity, truth and honesty of our heart delights the heart of God. The Lord is greatly pleased at a man/woman with a pure heart. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart (Psalm 73:1). The Lord measures a man not by his actions but by the intention of the heart. Delighting in the Lord and becoming the Lord’s delight is the condition of our heart.
Before the prophet Samuel stood seven well-built able bodied men who looked like the right fit to be the King of Israel but the Lord rejected all of them and chose a young ruddy teenager David. The Lord said to Prophet Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. (vs 7b). The Lord was not pleased nor did He delight in sturdy, burly and muscly mighty warriors but was greatly delighted in a humble, holy and honest heart.
The three simple reasons why the Lord esteemed and delighted in David was firstly, he had an excellent spirit with the work he did both as a shepherd and a musician. David’s skills were well known in the entire kingdom. “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player” (1 Samuel 16:18). There were no YouTube clips or podcasts of David’s musicals that spread like wildfire yet his talent was well known. Secondly David had a humble and contrite heart (Psalm 69:10-12). Thirdly, David’s worship was pure and sincere. David was dancing for the LORD with all his might, but he wore only a linen cloth (2 Samuel 6:14). David did not care about what people would talk about him when he worshipped the Lord.
Three attributes that delight the heart of God:
1. Work: Have an excellent spirit at work. David excelled as a shepherd, harpist, soldier, the commander in chief and as the King of Israel. Have an excellent spirit in all that you do. Right from cleaning dishes to software coding, from rocking the cradle to rocket science, exhibit an excellent spirit which does not compromise. Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men (Proverbs 22:29). Working with excellence greatly pleases the Lord.
2. Walk: Walk justly before the Lord. Never be silent or fuel any conversation against your enemy. Do not be part of a slander. Don’t retaliate or hoard revenge in your heart and secretly wait for the destruction of those who hurt you. God who witnesses the intention of our heart will reward us openly.
3. Worship: Worship in spirit and in truth. Don’t sing from your lips but from your heart. Don’t do or say anything that you don’t mean. True worship without flamboyance or facade delights the heart of God.
God delights in a truthful, honest and sincere heart.
Acts 13:22 ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.”
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, help my words, work, walk and worship be sincere and true. Amen.
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