Category: heart

The Encourager

“Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” 2 And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” 3 But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” 4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”  

1 Samuel 20:1-4, ESV 

David leaves Naioth behind, as he realizes that Saul (and his soldiers) had been temporarily “disabled.” He knew that the threat to assassinate him had for the time being had been stalled, and yet David didn’t stay for the theatrics. He simply knew it was time for an escape. 

And yet David seems mystified, and he reaches out to Jonathan with 3 questions that trouble him. It seems David is loyal, but he simply doesn’t understand the intensions of Saul. In all three questions David asks “what.” He is mystified. 

It takes the humility of Jonathan to attempt to ease David’s fear. 

Jonathan answers in an oblique way. He assures David that he can protect him with what he knows. Jonathan is aware of Saul’s treacherous plans and assures David of the strategies and plans that the enemy is concocting. He will do all that he can. 

It is here that we begin to understand that Saul is drawing near, and that David realizes that certain death has gotten very close. David understands how close he has come to being killed at the hand of Saul. “A step between me and death” is how David sees the plots of Saul. 

Again, Jonathan assures David of his commitment. Although he does not debate the claims of David, he simply assures him of his covenantal dedication. Jonathan encourages a discouraged man, and he speaks hope to the struggling David. 

This is what an encourager does. They bring comfort to the frustrated and weary. They stand in a remarkable place, and although they won’t deny the facts, they give strength to the weary. They declare all that God is to those who are overwhelmed and fearful. 

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”  

Isa. 40:29, NLT 

This comfort usually comes through people—servants of God who do not debate but encourage. They have renounced their own agenda and now live for others. They embolden, spurring others to be faithful to their calling. 

“I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.”  

Charles Spurgeon 

Overcoming With an Opposite Spirit

“Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord‘s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel,  Merb I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.” 

1 Samuel 18:17-19 

Saul’s deceit is now effective. His heart wants to manipulate David; he wants to destroy him. As I read this portion, I’m struck by Saul’s evil. He wants David dead but is unwilling to do this sin on his own. He wants the ungodly Philistines to do this dirty deed. 

He falsely believes that David’s success is based on his military prowess. He thinks the skill of David militarily acumen is secular and superb. But it isn’t. David’s ability is grace. A gift of God to men. It really can’t be explained otherwise. 

Saul was a man bereft of the Spirit of God. 

I don’t think otherwise. Saul discovers his “kryptonite.” It is his denial of the belief of God’s presence on a simple man. Maybe he knows, but he also understands that something has changed; Saul has lost the anointing of the Lord. 

Saul has lost his way. And now he resorts to the human way of thinking. 

David is on a completely wavelength. In verse 18 he shows the humility and meekness of a heart that is saturated with God’s residence. I believe that this is called “overcoming with an opposite spirit.” I don’t think you can see this any other way. 

God is using David to communicate to us His heart. David’s humility is something built inside; He responds in an innocence that is seldom seen. He was sincere; what you see is what you get. 

David responds with a heartfelt love for Saul. David is totally sincere, and he responds reveals God’s heart toward Saul. (If only King Saul would listen to God. But that wasn’t going to happen.) 

The marriage between David and Merab was just pretense. Saul stepped in and blocked it; he would never allow David’s ascendance into the royal line.  

Something significant, I think. David still has his harp. He worships himself through this morass. That worship sustains him. When David plays, it’s a level of protection from his enemies. 

A word about “overcoming with an opposite spirit.” 

Faith does some amazing things in a simple believer’s heart. We must (incessantly) respond to evil in the way of David. He shows us how. 

Much could be said about how we interpret this passage, and yet I keep focusing upon David’s humility here. But the work is His. And we must see this insight of a man who is giving himself to the ways of God, even in the tumult of the moment, David rests in the Lord.

This will test the heart of David.

Jealousy Consumes Saul

“And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousand, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.” 

1 Samuel 18:8-9, ESV

The phrase here suggests anger that has been intensified. King Saul was not just annoyed or irritated; it was much more than that. He saw and heard the women as they gathered—with their tambourines and music they began to rejoice over the victories of David. Rather than rejoicing David’s success, he made a choice (a decision) to be jealous. 

Something inside of him was very wrong and terribly twisted. 

Unrighteous anger twists the heart of a man into something that disturbs even our closest friends. When we act out of this anger, it distorts and then blinds us and we become unrecognizable. We no longer can hear the voice of our kind and gentle God, He who laid down His life for His friends. 

Saul was terribly wrong. From this minute on a jealous anger would drive him to a breaking point. He was now consumed with anger, jealousy, and ultimately murder. He wanted David dead. “And Saul eyed David from that day on.” (v. 9.) 

“Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.” 

Proverbs 27:4 

I once learned the proper way to kill a diamond-back rattlesnake. Obviously, you must be careful, and Saul was not. The snake’s venom would destroy him; he had been bitten, and he would not survive. Jealousy over David’s victories would totally ruin him. Saul’s envy will poison his heart and soul. 

Please do not be consumed by this sin. A disciple must learn how to work through the issues of jealousy, envy, and evil. The Holy Spirit will see that we will see these things head on. God will not allow us to fully enter His kingdom if we hold on to jealousy and anger. 

Rather than focus on what others have, we’re called to accept and receive what we’ve been given. We should rejoice in Him who gives gifts to those He has chosen. We must stay faithful and celebrate His gifts to others without becoming angry and spiteful. 

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” 

Romans 12:10 

Jealousy is like drinking something poisonous and hoping that the other person will die.

War Band Leader

“So, David went out wherever Saul sent him and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” 

1 Samuel 18:5, NKJV 

David was now part of Saul’s army. The Goliath incident had propelled him into serving as a “man of war” now. The shepherd now led a war band. Saul seems to recognize David’s faith and skill. I don’t believe King Saul recognized exactly who this young man really was. 

The humble shepherd was soon given authority, “over the men of war.” 

David would have known little of the practical aspects of being a leader and the obligations involved. That would need to be earned before it could be appreciated. I really believe that King Saul was quite pleased with David at this point. 

Maybe though Saul’s need was for leadership in the top ranks of his army? We read that, “Now there was a fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself.” (1 Sam. 14:52.) 

Saul saw with his own eyes Goliath being slaughtered. He recognized the audacious faith of the shepherd boy, and the incredible faith it instilled in the Israelite army. Yes, the king knew that David was a prodigy. 

Verse 10 points out what David’s strength was that he “behaved wisely.” In Hebrew is śāḵal, a verb that explains much. It means to be prudent, to have insight or to comprehend, or even to be an alert student. It seems that he grasped all that happened, whether good or bad. 

David understood that he was under the king’s authority. 

The people accepted the young David. The men in Saul’s government also supported David. He was accepted and well received. However, this is going to be a problem in the future. 

Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. (JI Packer.)

“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” 

Proverbs 4:7 

The Smear of the Holy Spirit

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.”

1 Samuel 16:13, ESV

I’d like to step back a little. Something quite significant happened when the boy David was anointed by the prophet Samuel. David the shepherd boy had been divinely chosen to become the future king of Israel.

This was a big deal.

And yet it was never mentioned again. We do know that David was anointed a second time when he actually became the king and took the throne. (Check out 2 Samuel 2:4.)

Why two, not exactly sure. Maybe the first was done privately, but the second was done publicly. The first was for the boy, David, and his family. The second was done openly in front of the nation.

It seems to me that both events were incredibly significant.

When David the boy was anointed by Samuel it gave him the power and strength to face Goliath. That first event was one of consecration for it gave David confidence and awareness of his destiny. He now operated with a new awareness that the sovereign God was now with him.

“Before we follow any man we should look for the oil on his forehead.”

A.W. Tozer

I believe that these anointings gave David the awareness of the Father’s special presence to be bold and confident. The second anointing not only placed him as king but also assured the people that David was different. People needed to know that this new king had God’s special touch.

Later on David would sin greatly with Bathsheba and Uriah. Sin diminishes the anointing. Compromising with sin does this; it always drains away God’s favor. (We need to understand this.) David would lose much by turning away from his calling.

That is why Psalm 32 and 51 are quite critical in his (and God’s eyes). David frittered away God’s special touch, but he would regain it by his deep repentance.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.“

Psalm 53:10-11

Learning to Sing

Sometimes we desperately need to sing. And perhaps we should write down a simple, faltering poem. I would suggest that you not make it public, unless told otherwise. This is just between you and your heavenly Father.

I’m told that David wrote 73 psalms.

These psalms are contextual (that is his experiences). They can be prophetic. They also declare a devotional meaning. Whatever. But one overriding truth is very present: the Holy Spirit infuses David’s words. What he writes is inspired and guided by God Himself.

That is remarkable.

This is David’s best Psalm. I strongly suspect that it was heavily influenced by the sheep, the pasture, and even the predators. I also think loneliness and isolation enabled him to write and sing with such power, and beauty.

Psalm 23 has brought comfort to millions. The sick and dying, the captive and prisoner, believer and non-believer have found profound consolation from David’s simple words.

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

A Boy is Anointed

“And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.” 

1 Samuel 12:12-13 

He was just a boy. The youngest, a mere 24/7 shepherd of a little flock in backwater, blue-collar Bethlehem. David brought nothing to the table, except a heart that God had chosen. I think the prophet Samuel was as shocked as anyone, as he closely examined the 7 brothers, one by one. 

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (v. 7) 

But it wasn’t a logical choice, it was not rational. But it was God’s, and Samuel obeyed the Voice, for he was very obedient. It soon will become apparent to all Israel that God had made a very good choice. 

I must point out in this story something you may have (or haven’t) heard. It’s something done for every believer. 

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.” 

1 Thess. 1:4 

He chose you! And if that isn’t enough, this verse declares that He LOVES you! “The phrase beloved by God was a phrase which the Jews applied only to supremely great men like Moses and Solomon, and to the nation of Israel itself. Now the greatest privilege of the greatest men of God’s chosen people has been extended to the humblest of the Gentiles.” William Barclay 

Do you understand? You have been selected from billions of others, His choice, made of agape love. He has anointed you with His Holy Spirit. Like David, who returned to his very routine “sheep-watching,” he walked away spiritually altered by his encounter with the oil of Samuel. 

You also have been altered. Like the scruffy grimy boy David, when the Holy Spirit comes, nothing will ever be the same. History has been changed 

I know this. You are now His. Selah. 

A Grinding Humility

“All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”

Luke 14:11

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse. They lived in Bethlehem and David served his father by tending his sheep. Like Moses, David learned the skills from life as a shepherd. He wasn’t valued by his family. He lived out in the field and simply did whatever he was told.

A diversion for young David was to sit and play a lyre. It calmed the sheep, and gave himself something to break the blind-numbing boredom of watching over a flock. He also learned the sling, punching rocks at targets both near and far. He got really good at both.

These things will determine David’s role as a king, and a shepherd of the nation of Israel.

But these are humble acts which seem small at best. And yet, given time, they will grow and will become the very basic foundations of a good king. Being a shepherd and protecting the flock is exactly what God wants. He seeks out those who have His heart.

Just perhaps this is what it really means to be a pastor, an elder, or a deacon. May we look to those who love the flock, and who can throw a stone or two.

“The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.“

John Stott

He Had God’s Heart

“The Lord has found a man after his own heart,”

1 Samuel 13:14 

What kind of heart does God have? I suppose that should be our starting point to where this blog is going. Since we must start somewhere. I suspect 1 Samuel 13 declares one of the first references to David’s story. 

In this passage the prophet is confronting Saul, the king. We see Samuel declaring that Saul, is rejected, and another is going to be anointed. Saul is extremely disturbed, but this is the firm will of God. 

Centuries later the Apostle Paul mentions David in one of his sermons. 

“But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ 

Acts 13:22, NLT  

What does it really mean “to be a man after God’s own heart?” 

  • Ordering Your Life with God’s Will: Passionately desire to do what God wants. 
  • A Broken and Repentant Heart: When sinning, they do not deny or make excuses, but sincerely confess, as shown in Psalm 51. 
  • Dependence & Faith: Relying completely on God, not on one’s own strength, work and effort. This trust in Him is wisdom that discerns. 
  • Worship, Prayer and Praise: A heart that consistently praises and thanks God, regardless of circumstances. A heart that wants to be closer to God. 
  • Deep Love for God: Valuing God’s presence and character above position, power, or personal desire. He is not ashamed of serving God openly. 

When we look at David, we will never see perfection. We do however see a love for God in His ways. Ultimately, he will do all that God desires.