May 28, 2015

 

Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:

 

In the sermon this Sunday, we shall look at 1 Samuel 24 in which David does not act upon an opportunity to slay King Saul, who doggedly is pursuing David with intent to kill. For our weekly Pastor's Letter, however, let's focus on a famous statement about David's character found in 1 Samuel 13:14 which reads, "the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people."

 

A man after God's own heart. This phrase sounds like it places David on a higher level than most of the rest of us. It surely identifies him in some way as superior to his predecessor Saul who failed to be a man after God's own heart. For had Saul earnestly sought God's heart, his royal line would have endured with the Lord's blessing. Instead, it is through David's lineage that the Messiah will establish God's kingdom forever. So, being a man after God's own heart is extremely significant and valuable.

 

So, what does it mean to be someone who is after God's own heart?

 

We can be grateful that it does not mean being perfect. If it did, David himself quickly would have been disqualified. We think immediately of the Bathsheba incident. David desires to have this wife of Uriah, a Hittite who serves in David's army. He takes her and she becomes pregnant by him. All David's attempts to make it appear as if the child belongs to Uriah come to naught. So David arranges for Uriah to be killed in battle. Seduction, adultery, lies, abuse of power, and conspiracy to murder--not exactly a spotless record and none of it should be excused or ignored.

 

Yet somehow in spite of these weighty sins, David remained a man after God's own heart. I find this to be most encouraging. It seems to say that we can be people after God's own heart while at the same time we grapple with being imperfect and sinful people. We truly can want God deeply and sincerely, yet still find ourselves falling into wrong decisions and actions.

 

How does this happen?

 

I suggest that the key is found in looking at what we do after we stumble and fall into wrong ways. Looking again at our Bible story, when Saul sins and then is confronted by the prophet Samuel about his wrongdoing, Saul simply makes excuses. He takes the path of self-justification. He downplays the evil and therefore reveals himself not to be passionate about the heart of God. In contrast, when David is confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sins, David accepts the rebuke. David's heart is stricken with guilt. David fears that he may have destroyed his relationship to God. In short, David repents. For the striking expression of David's penitent heart, read Psalm 51, which begins with verse 1, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." David's heart remains passionate for God. And God meets David with forgiveness and mercy. God keeps on loving and working with this man who wants God more than he wants to excuse his sins. As David goes on to write in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

 

So here is one test for us in assessing whether we are people in pursuit of God's own heart. With both Saul and David, we all sin. When we do, what is our response? Are we more prone to be with Saul in ignoring or minimizing or blame-shifting or airbrushing over the wrongs we do to God and others? If so, we are in a most dangerous spiritual situation. Or are we more like David in being quick to confess, to repent, and to do our best to put things right with God and others? If so, we continue as people after God's own heart--people who are met by a loving and gracious God all along the way.

 

Pastor Tim

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