THE HEART OF A WORSHIPPER
1 Samuel 16:1-13 NIV
“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.” 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.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 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?” 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. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 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.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 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.” 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.” 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.”
Why was David anointed King in the first place? Well Saul took actions into his own hands and was disobedient to God. Yes Saul was giving sacrifices, but Saul’s motives were wrong and thought of himself. Sometimes we can be like Saul. We believe works bring a blessing or brings the presence of the Holy Spirit. We tend to act on what we think is right or rely on traditions or routines because WE want a blessing from God. We want God to act on our behalf now and we turn it into me me me. I want this, I need that. What about God? When we come before the Lord and in His presen ce, where is your heart?
Acts 13:21-22 NIV
“Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’”
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
John 4:23 NIV
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
Psalms 100:1-4 NIV
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Psalms 101:1 NIV
“I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.”
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
James 4:8 NIV
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Acts 2:17 NIV
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
Psalms 23:1-6 NIV
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will 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 anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
When things don’t go your way, when you don’t get what you want, how are you going to handle it, how will you worship God? Are we getting in the presence of God?
God knows and sees our heart!
David was anointed King because he was after God’s heart. God is ready to pour out His spirit. God is looking for those after His heart. In this time and in these last days. Where is your heart?