A Man After Gods Own Heart

Introduction: The Heart of the King

Welcome to the Well Community Church. I am so glad you’re hanging out with us today. If we haven’t met yet, my name is Brad, and I get the privilege of handling God’s word here this week. We are continuing in our series called Monarchy, where we are looking at the three monarchs of the United Kingdom: King Saul, King David, and King Solomon.

Today, we find ourselves in 1 Samuel chapter 16. The reason we spend time in the Bible here at the Well is that we are committed to the Scriptures. We believe it’s inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. We read the Bible in hopes that the Bible might also read us, changing us and shaping us. It draws our attention to who our God is, His character, and what life is meant to be lived like under His authority. I hope today we can be both encouraged and challenged as we look at this text.

Last week, we finished up our look at Saul’s life. Saul continues on in the narrative, but we are turning the page to King David. We talked about Saul being a king who finished poorly. He was a guy who wanted the perks of the kingdom, but he didn’t want a relationship with the King. He wanted the blessings of God, but he didn’t want personal obedience to God.

One of the saddest things about Saul is that he just couldn’t do it—he couldn’t confess, repent, or soften his heart. Because of that, his kingdom was pulled away. As it says in chapter 13, the Lord sought for Himself a man after His own heart.

1 Samuel 13:14 (NASB)

‘But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.’

In chapter 15, we saw that the Lord tore the kingdom of Israel from Saul and gave it to a neighbor who was “better” than him. That must have stung. All God wanted from Saul was repentance.

1 Samuel 15:28 (NASB)

So Samuel said to him, ’The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.

Ironically, Psalm 51 was written by David after he sinned, but it contains the very wisdom Saul needed. David understood that God doesn’t just want ritual; He wants the heart.

Psalms 51:16-17 (NASB)

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Moving On: The Call to Bethlehem

As we pick up the story, Samuel and Saul have parted ways. Samuel is grieving over Saul, but God tells him it’s time to move on. In a very practical way, God says, “Hey look, we gotta reload, man. Next up.”

1 Samuel 15:34-35 (NASB)

Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 16:1 (NASB)

Now the LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.’

God tells Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go to Jesse the Bethlehemite. Samuel is hesitant because Saul is a little “tweaked” right now. Samuel literally fears for his life, saying, “If Saul hears of it, he will indeed kill me.”

1 Samuel 16:2 (NASB)

But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? When Saul hears [of it], he will kill me.’ And the LORD said, ’Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

God gives Samuel a “cover story,” telling him to take an offering and invite Jesse to a sacrifice. It’s not dishonest; it’s just not the whole truth. So Samuel heads to the house of Jesse.

Now, there is a fascinating connection here. In the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew, we see that Jesse is the father of David, but he is also the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. This lineage leads directly to the Messiah.

Matthew 1:5-6 (NASB)

Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.

Samuel arrives in Bethlehem, which means “House of Bread.” This is significant because hundreds of years later, the prophet Micah would say that from Bethlehem would come a ruler whose goings forth are from eternity. Jesus, the Bread of Life, would eventually be born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread, to nourish the world.

Micah 5:2 (NASB)

‘But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, [Too] little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.’

When Samuel arrives, the elders of the city are trembling. They ask, “Do you come in peace?” You have to understand Samuel’s job. He was a circuit-riding judge. He usually showed up to adjudicate obedience versus disobedience. He wasn’t exactly the guy you expected to bring “good news.” Plus, in the previous chapter, he had just hewed King Agag to pieces with a sword. So, the elders were naturally a bit concerned.

1 Samuel 16:4 (NASB)

So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, ‘Do you come in peace?’

A Different Measuring Stick

Samuel consecrates Jesse and his sons and invites them to the sacrifice. They start with the oldest son, Eliab. On paper, this makes perfect sense. In that culture, the oldest got the blessing and a double portion of the inheritance. Samuel looks at him and thinks, “Surely this is the one.”

But God doesn’t always follow cultural practices. He chose Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and Joseph over his brothers. God introduces a principle here that we must pay attention to.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB)

But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God [sees] not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’

For those of you who are NFL fans, we are on the tail end of the NFL Combine season. It’s all about measurements: the 40-yard dash, the bench press, the vertical jump. These are benchmarks used to compare athletes. But God isn’t interested in your combine score.

Man sees the outside; God sees the heart. The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are completely His. God doesn’t care if you’re tall or short, round or thin, or if you have hair on your head or coming out of your ears. He wants the heart.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)

‘For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.’

Psalms 147:10-11 (NASB)

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

One by one, seven of Jesse’s sons pass before Samuel, and one by one, the Lord says, “Not this one.”

The Forgotten Son

Samuel is now zero for seven. He asks Jesse, “Are these all your children?” You can sense Jesse’s hesitation. He says, “Well, there’s one more… the youngest. He’s out in the field tending the sheep.”

1 Samuel 16:11 (NASB)

And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are these all the children?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’

Dads, imagine this. The prophet shows up and says one of your boys is going to be king, and you leave one out in the field? That’s a bit “jacked,” isn’t it? David was overlooked and underestimated. Whether it was because he was just a child—maybe 10 or 12 years old—or some other reason, he wasn’t even invited to the meeting.

Samuel says, “Go get him. We won’t sit down until he comes.” When David finally walks in, he is described as “ruddy” with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. “Ruddy” likely refers to his complexion—picture a kid in Fresno in August. He’s got that sun-kissed, reddish glow.

1 Samuel 16:12 (NASB)

So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is he.’

There is something about this young scoundrel that is fascinating. You will love him and you will hate him; you’ll be proud of him and embarrassed by him. But he has a special relationship with God. Samuel takes the horn of oil and anoints him in the midst of his brothers.

1 Samuel 16:13 (NASB)

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

The Shepherd King’s Heart

David’s heart for God is incredible. He wrote over 70 of the Psalms. He didn’t always make good decisions—he really didn’t—but he was incredibly quick to repent and seek God in his brokenness.

Think about the words he wrote. Perhaps while out in those fields, he penned the most famous poem in history:

Psalms 23:1-6 (NASB)

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

But he also wrote out of raw, gut-wrenching emotion. He wasn’t afraid to be honest with God when things were falling apart.

Psalms 13:1-6 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [Having] sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider [and] answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the [sleep of] death, And my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ [And] my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

I love that in Psalm 13, David shifts from “How long, O Lord?” to “But I have trusted in your lovingkindness.” That word is hesed—God’s unconditional, covenantal, never-ending love. Notice that the circumstances didn’t change, but David’s focus did. He worships even when there is no immediate relief.

The Gospel of the Heart

As we look at this text, I want to leave you with three observations. First, a theological one: What really matters to God is the inside.

But here’s the problem: our hearts are deceitfully wicked. Jesus said that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, and pride. We don’t need help being awful; we are bent that way. So, the solution isn’t to “be a better person.” That’s a fool’s errand.

The solution is the Gospel. It’s not a heart upgrade; it’s a full reinstall.

Titus 3:5 (NASB)

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

When you embrace the Gospel, God takes out the heart of stone and gives you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB)

’Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

This happens through a theological concept called imputation. Think of it like a banking app. Your college student calls you because they have a flat tire and a negative balance. Out of love, you transfer money from your account to theirs. They didn’t earn it, but they can now pay the tire shop because your funds were credited to them.

That is the Gospel. When we place our faith in Jesus, His righteousness is credited to our account. The Father sees us as holy because of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Romans 5:1 (NASB)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Faithful in the Wilderness

Second, a situational observation: David was out shepherding sheep when the call came. He might have felt forgotten. Have you ever felt that?

I want you to know that wherever you are, you are there with a purpose. While David was smelling like a sheep, God was training him. He was learning to lead stubborn animals, which prepared him to lead stubborn people. He was practicing his slingshot, which prepared him for Goliath. He was writing songs, which prepared him to lead a nation in worship.

If you feel overlooked, your God sees you. He is able, He is aware, and He is involved. He is doing something in you in the wilderness that He could never do if you were already in the palace.

A Life of Faithfulness

Finally, a generational observation: Look at Samuel’s story arc. He was faithful as a child, faithful as a young adult, faithful in middle age, and here he is, likely in his eighties or nineties, still fully engaged in the Kingdom.

In our culture, we think we eventually “retire” from God’s work, move to Florida, and play bridge. But Samuel shows us a different model. From his earliest years to his final breath, his focus was: Kingdom, Kingdom, Kingdom.

You can be faithful to God in every season of your life. Whether you are a student, a young professional, or an elderly saint whose knees pop every time you get off the couch, there is no greater joy than seeking His kingdom first.

Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

’But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Closing Prayer

Father, I’m thankful for this scripture that reminds us of who You are. Man sees the outside, but You see the heart. Lord, could our hearts be presented to You today? Help us to be faithful in whatever location You’ve placed us and focused on Your kingdom regardless of what season of life we’re in. Thank You for challenging us to value what You value. Bless us, I pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.