What Is God Looking For?

INTRODUCTION

“Everyone desires to feel significant, important, and loved, finding happiness in recognition and feeling disappointed when ignored. I have observed individuals going to great lengths to impress others and gain attention. However, whom do you genuinely aspire to impress? When it comes to leaving a positive impression, what do people focus on, and what does God prioritize?”

This morning we are going to see how we can find recognition in the sight of God.

Today, we begin a study on the life of David – A man after God’s own heart.

Brief History

David was born in Bethlehem in 1040 BC and died in 970 BC in Jerusalem. He was the youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd boy from Bethlehem. David was known as a giant killer, a composer of Psalms, and ultimately became the greatest King of Israel. Remarkably, there is more written about David than any other character in the Old Testament, with 66 chapters dedicated to his story. Additionally, there are 57 references to David in the New Testament. However, what often captivates many of us is the fact that David is a man who shares our struggles. On one hand, he experiences glorious triumphs, but on the other, he encounters significant tragedies in his life. Through this series, we will delve into David’s journey as he wrestles through various situations in life.

1 Samuel 8:1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.

1 Samuel 8:5 The elders of Israel said to Samuel, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

Notice the 3 reasons why they want a King: Samuel is getting old, Samuel’s son’s are wicked, and all the other nations have a King. All 3 reasons show that they have put their trust more in men than in God. Samuel is not pleased by the request. But when people insisted, God allows Samuel to give them what they want.

1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

Remember God works in His own ways, but if we keep insisting on our ways, God may give in but it may not necessarily be God’s perfect will for us. God allowed Israel to choose a king, but it was not God’s primary plan. Their first King is introduced to us in-

1 Samuel 9:2 Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.

Now, let’s consider a king chosen by humans and observe what qualities they value in their choice. According to the Bible, one of the factors that attracted people to Saul as king was his physical appearance. He was young, tall, and presented a favorable public image, possessing the charisma to rally the people. This selection was primarily based on external factors, with little consideration given to his inner qualities.

However, why was there a need to replace Saul? At first glance, Saul didn’t appear to be a bad choice for king. He possessed good looks, athleticism, and stood taller than anyone else in Israel. Initially, Saul demonstrated wisdom and humility as the ruler of Israel, which garnered him the favor of the people and even Samuel.

God’s problem with Saul was that when he was faced with tough decisions, even though Saul knew what God’s will was, he knew what God wanted him to do – Saul simply disobeyed God. Saul made his choices based on his fear. Saul was afraid of everyone other than God. In fact, Saul seemed to fear everything except God. As a result God rejected Saul as His king but this time God decided to choose a king after His own heart.

1 Samuel 16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?”

How much ever we elevate ourselves, how much ever we impress others, if we are not faithful in the presence of God, God can reject us and strip us out of worldly blessings and people’s recognition.

1. GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITHFUL PEOPLE.

God is looking for people whose eyes are fixed at Him and hearts devoted to Him.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Psalm 53:2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Faithful people are hard to find.

Proverbs 20:6 Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?
The Bible says if you are faithful you will be abundantly blessed.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful person will be richly blessed.
God is looking for faithful people. God was searching through entire Israel to find a faithful man to lead his people.

So what would a man after God’s own heart look like? How will a faithful man look like?

1 Samuel 16:1 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.”

Indeed, God had already identified a faithful man; He simply needed to reveal it publicly. As a child of God, it is crucial to understand that if you remain faithful, God takes notice. You may feel overlooked while fulfilling your responsibilities towards your family or at your workplace, but rest assured that God sees your efforts and will acknowledge them one day. Guided by God’s direction, Samuel proceeds to Jesse’s family in Bethlehem to evaluate all of Jesse’s sons.

First he takes a look at Eliab, the oldest son.

1 Samuel 16:6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” Eliab really impressed Samuel. He must been a physically well-built man because Samuel basically says, “This is got to be him!”

1 Samuel 16:7 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.”

Oh! The prophet got it wrong. Sometimes prophets can go wrong. Samuel looked at the outward appearance. Sometimes the prophets tend to look outside and can go wrong.

So, when God refuses Eliab, the rest of Jesse’s sons are paraded before Samuel and God rejects every one of them.

1 Samuel 16:11 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.”

Jesse had 8 sons and 2 daughters and I guess when you have 10 kids you can forget one. Samuel calls for the youngest one. Now, I don’t know how long they stood there because the Bible doesn’t tell us how far away David’s herd was.

Finally, David arrives from the field, his clothes permeated with the smell of sheep. He observes his brothers, all dressed up, and a crowd gathered around. Meanwhile, David, still in his shepherd’s attire, catches God’s attention. Samuel, the prophet of God, approaches David, pours oil on his head, and as it trickles down the back of his neck, proclaims, “You are the next King of Israel.”

David must have been astounded, thinking, “Wow! I never anticipated this! God was watching me.” As children of God, we must realize that God sees our hearts. He witnesses our hardships and recognizes our faithfulness. In David, God noticed someone whom nobody had ever acknowledged or noticed, and anointed him as king over Israel. Even David’s own father failed to recognize the faithfulness of his youngest son. Yet, God saw David’s heart and declared, “David, you are the one!” Through David’s selection, God demonstrates that those who go unnoticed and unacknowledged by humans hold immense value in His eyes.

WHAT IS GOD LOOKING FOR?

Now what was it that God saw in David’s heart? Why did God make this selection when his brothers may have seemed better? Well, when you study David’s life, I think you can see 4 qualities that stand out in David that prompted God to select him as King.

1. David possessed a heart of dependence on God.

I want you to notice the comparison of Saul’s heart to David’s. When it came to dependence upon the Lord, Saul took matters into his own hands.

In 1 Samuel 15 Israel is at war against the Amalekites.

God said- 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.

See what Saul did- 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

God gave Saul the victory, but instead of destroying the enemy he kept the best of things for his own survival. Rather than depending on God, Saul depended on himself.

See the heart of David- Psalm 62:6-8 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7My salvation and my honor depend on God he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

David totally depended on God. Let me ask you this morning. Do you have a heart that depends totally upon God? Are you depending on the Lord in your marriage, for your family, for your future? Are you depending on God to take care of your needs or are you doing everything by yourself? Do you worry constantly how things are going to work out? Depend on God.

God knows every sparrow that falls to the ground, and you are worth far more than sparrows. He even knows the exact number of hairs on your head. God possesses an intimate knowledge of you. Cultivating a heart of dependence means acknowledging that no matter the circumstances, God remains in control. It entails placing your trust and reliance entirely on God. So, depend on God wholeheartedly.

2. David possessed a heart of obedience to God.

Psalm 40:8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 86:11-12 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

You see David’s desire was to be obedient. He wanted to find God’s plan and pursue it no matter how difficult it would be. Those who know some of David’s life might ask: “If he was so obedient, why did he commit sins like adultery?” Even in that experience you see David’s heart was crushed when he sinned but Saul tried to whitewash his sin.

When we read Psalm 51, David is pleading for forgiveness, for he is so distraught that he has disobeyed. God’s not looking for hearts that are perfect but hearts that are striving to do His will. An obedient heart is not necessarily a sinless heart, an obedient heart is the one that makes mistakes but then repents and gets back in God’s will. God is looking for obedient hearts.

3. David possessed the heart of a servant.

See what God testifies about David-

Psalm 89:20 I have found David my servant.

God addressed David as His servant. To be a servant is to be humble. David was a humble man.

Do you know what David did after he was anointed as King? He went back out and tended sheep. Is that what anyone would do once they are anointed king? I’m afraid I might have been tempted to catch the first taxi to Jerusalem to check out my new palace or to have new business cards printed, changing them from “David the Shepherd” to “David the King!” However, David chose a different path. When Saul needed a musician in verse 17, his messenger discovered David still faithfully tending to his sheep. David’s humility shines through his actions. He was not too proud to continue caring for the sheep. It is noteworthy that God seeks out humble individuals.

D L Moody , “The measure of a man is not how many servants/workers he has, but how many men he serves.”

ILLUSTRATION

A large group of European pastors attended one of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts during the late 1800s. Following the customary practice of that time in Europe, each guest placed his shoes outside his room, expecting the hall servants to clean them overnight. However, this was America, and there were no hall servants available.

As Moody walked through the dormitory halls that night, he noticed the shoes and made a decision not to embarrass his fellow pastors. He mentioned the situation to some ministerial students who were also present, hoping for assistance, but was met with silence or pious excuses. Undeterred, Moody returned to the dormitory, gathered up the shoes, and retired to his own room. Alone in that room, the renowned evangelist embarked on the task of cleaning and polishing the shoes. It was a secret endeavor that he had taken upon himself.

Unexpectedly, a friend arrived while Moody was in the midst of his work, inadvertently revealing the humble act. When the foreign visitors opened their doors the following morning, they were surprised to find their shoes shining and polished, unaware of the behind-the-scenes effort that had been made.

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Christian leadership requires servanthood.

4. David possessed a heart of integrity.

Psalm 78:70-72 70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

Integrity means moral soundness, honesty, uprightness of character, completeness.

Integrity is our security.

Proverbs 10:9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

Integrity is our guide.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

To help people understand their personality better there is something called the Johari Window developed by Joseph Cuft and Harry Ingham.

Johari Window

Open Arena: Things I know about myself that you know about me. It includes my name, behavior, motive, feelings, wants, needs etc. The more you speak to people you know their open arena.

Blind Spot: Things you know about me that I am unaware of. Suppose I have ink marks on the back of my shirt which I cannot see. Once someone tells me I can take corrective measures. We all have blind spots in our character. For example we can have blind spots in our attitude what others can see but unaware to us. If you want to correct your blind spots, listen to your spouse, you will get it, correct yourself.

Hidden Arena: Things I know about myself that you do not know. For example none of you know my favorite colour, favorite food etc. Only I and God know my hidden arena. There is a whole lot of story inside every one of you which no one knows except you and God. It can be good, it can also be bad.

Unknown: There are things that either I know about myself nor anyone of you know about me. We all have unknown gifts and talents which God only knows. We have a great potential here, we need to tap it. Ask God to reveal it to you.

Now what is integrity in my personality through the Johari Window? Keeping God in all 4 quadrants of one’s life is integrity. That is God in my public arena, God in my blind spot, God in my hidden area, and God in my unknown arena.

So, integrity is what you are in public, in secret, in your homes, and every aspect of your life. Integrity is what you are when no one else is looking. Integrity is holiness. David was a man with a heart of integrity and God saw him.

CONCLUSION

If you want to know more about the heart of God, see the heart of Jesus. Jesus possessed all these qualities.

Philippians 2:7-8 7 Jesus made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death —even death on a cross!

Jesus was humble even though He was the Son of God.
Jesus was obedient to God the Father even unto His death.
Even in His death Jesus depended on God. As Jesus was dying He cried out:

Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 
Jesus was a man of integrity.

1 John 3:5 And in him is no sin.

David was a nobody. Nobody noticed, but God knew him. God saw the heart of David. God is looking at your heart today. Do you have a heart of dependence, a heart of obedience, a heart of a servant, and a heart of integrity? Man looks at the outside but God looks at the inside. Let’s Pray.