A Man After God's Own Heart!!
Psalm 109:8-20
8 May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.
9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.
10 May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
12 May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off,
their names blotted out from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord;
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before the Lord,
that he may blot out their name from the earth.
16 For he never thought of doing a kindness,
but hounded to death the poor
and the needy and the brokenhearted.
17 He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
20 May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me.
Reflection: Notice David has quite a bit of animosity toward his enemy. It is interesting that everything he says is prefaced by the word, “May”. Here is allowing for God’s judgment on his enemy rather than taking it out by his own hands. As it is said “judgment belongs to the Lord.” As Matthew Henry concludes in his commentary, “In singing this psalm we must comfort ourselves with the believing foresight of the certain destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his church, and the certain salvation of all those that trust in God and keep close to him.”
1 Samuel 15:24-16:13
Samuel Anoints David
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to 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. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Reflection: Here is the beautiful story of the anointing of King David as the next king of Israel. Notice this king did not come from Benjamin like Saul, but from the town of Bethlehem which means daughter of bread. As Samuel mourns the rejection of Saul, though he had faithfully carried out the Lord’s rejection of him, God calls a new man. When Samuel saw Eliab, all the external appearances seemed like he would be the man God would choose. On the outside he looked good. But then we see that God had chosen David and in verse 7 (a great verse to memorize!) we see why! It says man looks at the outside appearance but God looks at the heart! In another verse we see David was, “a man after God’s own heart!”
When God looks for leaders he most importantly looks at their heart. A heart that is open and pliable and ready to do God’s will no matter what. Though often people look to outside appearances God looks at the heart. Notice too that David’s countenance is glowing and he exudes health and vitality. By being a man after a God’s own heart not only is his heart right, but his body is healthy and glowing as a result of good choices and following God’s plan for life. While we may fool others what is going on in our lives, God sees our hearts? What is your heart condition like? What would God say? As we seek the Lord and confess our sins before Him honestly He will create in us a pure and clean heart through His Son Jesus.
John 3:1-15
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Reflection: Nicodemus seeks out Jesus at night, maybe because he was afraid of associating with him by day. Nicodemus wants to know how Jesus does the signs he does. Jesus tells him plainly that the only way to operate in kingdom power is to be born again. Nicodemus is confused and he is thinking in the natural. But Jesus explains how being “born again” is like being “born from above”. He explains how it is the Spirit’s work of regeneration, so that we are new creation in Christ. Even though Nicodemus teaches the Law he does not understand this aspect of who the Messiah would be even though in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 it is prophesied that God would write His law on their hearts and create a new heart and spirit within us.
Today people continue to be confused by the term “born again”. I think it is helpful to think of it as “born from above”. This reminds us that we all have earthly fathers and mothers, but when we come to faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, who opens our hearts and minds to the truth of the Gospel, we become God’s children and part of His holy family. As we come to faith and are baptized we are a new Creation and that is how we can live out our calling as God’s sons and daughter through the covenant He has made with us through His Son. We live in the promise that we are new in the inside and one day we will be made completely new on the outside when Jesus returns. In the meantime, we grow in becoming more like our brother Christ and more like our Heavenly Father as the Spirit cries out in our hearts, “Abba Father” as we pray and receive more and more power to live the life God has called us to! Reflect today that you are a son or daughter of God and let the Spirit lead you to be more like the Son as you live out your day today!
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17-18
Help us to continue to follow you, O Lord. Restore our hearts and renew our minds so that each action and motive may be of service in spreading your good news. Bless the casting of our nets upon the waters of this world, bringing to shore the bounty and beauty of your will. Amen.
8 May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.
9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.
10 May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
12 May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off,
their names blotted out from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord;
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before the Lord,
that he may blot out their name from the earth.
16 For he never thought of doing a kindness,
but hounded to death the poor
and the needy and the brokenhearted.
17 He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
20 May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me.
Reflection: Notice David has quite a bit of animosity toward his enemy. It is interesting that everything he says is prefaced by the word, “May”. Here is allowing for God’s judgment on his enemy rather than taking it out by his own hands. As it is said “judgment belongs to the Lord.” As Matthew Henry concludes in his commentary, “In singing this psalm we must comfort ourselves with the believing foresight of the certain destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his church, and the certain salvation of all those that trust in God and keep close to him.”
1 Samuel 15:24-16:13
Samuel Anoints David
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to 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. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Reflection: Here is the beautiful story of the anointing of King David as the next king of Israel. Notice this king did not come from Benjamin like Saul, but from the town of Bethlehem which means daughter of bread. As Samuel mourns the rejection of Saul, though he had faithfully carried out the Lord’s rejection of him, God calls a new man. When Samuel saw Eliab, all the external appearances seemed like he would be the man God would choose. On the outside he looked good. But then we see that God had chosen David and in verse 7 (a great verse to memorize!) we see why! It says man looks at the outside appearance but God looks at the heart! In another verse we see David was, “a man after God’s own heart!”
When God looks for leaders he most importantly looks at their heart. A heart that is open and pliable and ready to do God’s will no matter what. Though often people look to outside appearances God looks at the heart. Notice too that David’s countenance is glowing and he exudes health and vitality. By being a man after a God’s own heart not only is his heart right, but his body is healthy and glowing as a result of good choices and following God’s plan for life. While we may fool others what is going on in our lives, God sees our hearts? What is your heart condition like? What would God say? As we seek the Lord and confess our sins before Him honestly He will create in us a pure and clean heart through His Son Jesus.
John 3:1-15
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Reflection: Nicodemus seeks out Jesus at night, maybe because he was afraid of associating with him by day. Nicodemus wants to know how Jesus does the signs he does. Jesus tells him plainly that the only way to operate in kingdom power is to be born again. Nicodemus is confused and he is thinking in the natural. But Jesus explains how being “born again” is like being “born from above”. He explains how it is the Spirit’s work of regeneration, so that we are new creation in Christ. Even though Nicodemus teaches the Law he does not understand this aspect of who the Messiah would be even though in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 it is prophesied that God would write His law on their hearts and create a new heart and spirit within us.
Today people continue to be confused by the term “born again”. I think it is helpful to think of it as “born from above”. This reminds us that we all have earthly fathers and mothers, but when we come to faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, who opens our hearts and minds to the truth of the Gospel, we become God’s children and part of His holy family. As we come to faith and are baptized we are a new Creation and that is how we can live out our calling as God’s sons and daughter through the covenant He has made with us through His Son. We live in the promise that we are new in the inside and one day we will be made completely new on the outside when Jesus returns. In the meantime, we grow in becoming more like our brother Christ and more like our Heavenly Father as the Spirit cries out in our hearts, “Abba Father” as we pray and receive more and more power to live the life God has called us to! Reflect today that you are a son or daughter of God and let the Spirit lead you to be more like the Son as you live out your day today!
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17-18
Help us to continue to follow you, O Lord. Restore our hearts and renew our minds so that each action and motive may be of service in spreading your good news. Bless the casting of our nets upon the waters of this world, bringing to shore the bounty and beauty of your will. Amen.
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