The Lord Looks at the Heart

1 Samuel 16:1-23

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7b 

“Man looks at the outward appearance, But the Lord looks at the heart.”

We will think about God’s gentle rebukes toward Samuel in three ways. 

(1) No more mourn: How to overcome grief (v1)

(2) Do not look at the appearance: (v7a) 

(3) The Lord looks at the heart. (v7b) 

May God bless us and fill our hearts with Christ so that we can be a man after God’s own heart. 

1. Read verses 1-5. What does the Lord say to Samuel? (1) What does Samuel ask the Lord? (2a) How does the Lord instruct Samuel to anoint the one He chose? (2b, 3) How does Samuel obey? (4-5)

1-1) Read verses 1-5. 

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.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and 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.

1-2) What does the Lord say to Samuel? (1) 

a) How long will you mourn for Saul? (1a)

i) Samuel’s grieving over Saul. 

Samuel was emotionally closely attached to Saul. 

Probably, he was upset, angry toward Saul’s willful disobedience. 

Samuel’s grief was related to the fact that God rejected Saul. 

Probably, he was sorry for God’s rejection. 

Samuel had to believe God was gracious, just and right for Saul. 

God rejected Saul because of Saul’s disobedience: God is just. 

ii) Dangers of grief: 

Grief can turns to anger, bitterness toward God. 

Failures in life can lead us to grief, anger and bitterness toward God. 

Grief can trap us in the past, powerless in the present, negative for the future. 

When we are tangled with the past, we cannot do anything. 

iii) How to deal with grief in our lives/others lives? 

We must trust in God who is good. (Rom 8:28) 

We must have hope in God. (Psa 42:5) 

We must be strong with God and obey His commands. (Josh 1:7)

iv) What are you grieving over? What is your grief? 

Pour it out to God: be healed and move forward. 

b) Fill your horn with oil and be on your way. (1b)

God commanded Samuel to anoint a king. 

There is a time to mourn; there is a time to move on with God (Eccl 3:1-8) 

To overcome grief, we must to hear God’s word and obey his commands. 

c) I have chosen one of his sons to be king. (1c)

The new king for Israel would be found among the sons of Jesse. 

God has chosen a leader for Himself. 

God will always provide leaders for Himself.

1-3) What does Samuel ask the Lord? (2a) 

a) “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.”

Bethlehem is 10 miles away from Gibeah, Saul’s home. 

Saul will hear about it quickly and might kill him.

b) Samuel feared Saul: 

Fear of man: unbelief in God in that specific situation 

Samuel’s human weakness was exposed. 

1-4) How does the Lord instruct Samuel to anoint the one He chose? (2b, 3) 

a) “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.”

God was not telling Samuel to lie. 

Actually, Samuel did offer a sacrifice [heifer: young cow] 

But, he did not tell the whole story.  

b) “You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 

The first king of Israel, Saul was anointed for the people. 

The Second king of Israel, David will be anointed for the Lord. 

1-5) How does Samuel obey? (4-5)

a) Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem

Samuel’s obedience to God risking his life was exemplary to us. 

b) “Do you come in peace?”

The elders of the town trembled at his coming

Because of what Samuel had done with the Amalekite king Agag (1Sam15:33)

c) He invited Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice: 

Samuel obeyed the Lord; inviting Jesse and his sons.

2. Read verses 6-13. What does Samuel think about Eliab? (6)  What does the Lord say about Eliab? (7a)  What does the Lord look at? (7b) How is David finally anointed? (8-12)  What are some of David’s characteristics? (11, 12, 18)  What happens to David when he is anointed? (13)

2-1) Read verses 6-13 

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 man looks at. Man looks 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, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he 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 upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

2-2) What does Samuel think about Eliab? (6)  

a) “Surely the Lord’s anointed stand here before the Lord.”

Samuel thought this man sure looks like a king. 

b) Samuel, great man of God looked at the appearance only. 

How much more will it be for ordinary people like us. 

How easily outward appearance and human abilities appeal to us. 

We think good appearances and abilities would be good for God and His kingdom

                                                                                                                                 purpose. 

But God does not need human ability or appearance to fulfill His plan. (1Sam 5-6) 

God graciously use humble men for His glory. 

c) We are obsessed with the external: outward appearance or performance.

That’s how we pick a wife or a husband. 

That’s how we measure the value of person. 

That’s why hair style, jewelry, clothes, make up are so popular. 

That’s why we spent so much time in front of mirror. 

That’s why plastic surgeries are so popular.

d) What do we need to look at? 

i) Not Outward appearance:

It is deceptive and fleeting. (Prov 31:30)

ii) But Inward/inner person: 

It is unfading beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit. (1 Pet 3:3,4)

This is what God looks at: inner person to be more like Jesus.

“How much time we spend for our inner person” tells a lot about us

2-3) What does the Lord say about Eliab? (7a)  

a) “Do not consider his appearance or his height. 

The Lord looks at the heart.”

 

b) I have rejected him. 

When the Lord looked at the heart of Eliab, he did not seek the God’s own heart. 

2-4) What does the Lord look at? (7b)

a) The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

We can’t see the heart: only see outward appearance. 

a) The Lord looks at the heart [inner man, will, desire, heart]

i) God sees the deepest desire in a man: the real us. 

God looks into our heart: beyond the external appearance. 

ii) God sees our heart.

Our Sinfulness (Jer 17:9)  

Pride, hatred, jealousy, lust, greed, anxiety, fear and all kinds of evil 

                        What is important to God in our hearts? 

          “Blood of Jesus” or “Jesus likeness” 

Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is important.

Humility of Jesus: Power of resurrection: Love of Christ: love for people: 

Faith in Jesus: Hope of Heavenly Kingdom: Passion for evangelism: 

iii) What matters is what is in our heart. 

Outward appearance is decaying; fleeting away. 

Have Christ in your hearts

2-4) How is David finally anointed? (8-12)  

a) The seven sons of Jesse pass before Samuel but God had not chosen any of these.

The Lord rejects all of them. 

b)David was regarded lowly among his family

i) his father doesn’t even mention him by name. 

ii) he wasn’t even invited to the sacrificial feast. 

iii) he would not have been brought unless Samuel insisted on it. 

c) God chose the youngest one. 

According to the standards of the world; David was nothing.

He did not have any credentials to be a king. 

He did not have much reputation even in his family. 

According to the standards of God: he is the one. 

God prepared him as a king: shepherd heart for sheep. 

The Lord looked at David’s heart.

His heart was like the heart of God: 

A man after His own heart. (1Sam 13:14)

He loved what God loves: He hated what God hates: 

He valued what God values; 

He was humble and obedient to the Lord. 

c) This is often how God chooses his servants. 

God often chooses unlikely people to do His work. 

so that all the glory should be given to Him, only. 

Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble are called (1Cor 1:26) 

That’s true of every single one of us.  

By His grace, we are called to be children of God and His servants. 

2-5) What are some of David’s characteristics? (11, 12, 18)  

1) Characters

Youngest son (v11a)

Shepherd (v11b)

Ruddy, a fine appearance and handsome features. (v12)

Ruddy [reddish in color] was considered attractive in that culture. 

A fine-looking man (v18, 1Sam 16:12).

Skillful in playing the harp (v18)

Brave warrior (v18, 1Sam 17:34-35)

Speaks well [prudent in speech] (v18)

The Lord is with him (v18) 

2) David was 10yrs old according to Josephus, Jewish historian.

Some guess David was 15yrs old because he was almost ready to get married.

At that time, people get married at the average age of 16-17. 

2-6) What happens to David when he is anointed? (13)

1) Samuel anointed him in the presence of his brothers.

They might think that Samuel was just honoring David for some reason. 

No one knew what was going on at that time. 

2) The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. 

Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus was the dove. (Mat 3:16)

Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples was the tongues of fire. (Acts 2:3) 

Holy Spirit loves to do His work as He wills, in many different ways.

3. Read verses 14-23. What happens to Saul? (14) What do Saul’s attendants suggest to him to make him feel better? (15-17)  Who is suggested? (18) How does David become one of Saul’s armor-bearers? (19-22) How does David serve Saul? (23)

3-1) Read verses 14-23. 

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better.” 17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” 19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 

20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. 21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

3-2) What happens to Saul? (14) 

a) The Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul. 

Saul had the Spirit of the Lord upon him at one time. (1Sam 10:10)

Due to Saul’s willful disobedience, he resisted the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, Saul lost his spiritual protection from the Lord. 

This was the punishment of God for Saul’s past wickedness and rebellion against Him. 

b) An evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.

God allowed evil to come to Saul. 

Ultimately, Satan and evil spirits, belong to the Lord. 

God is not the source of the evil itself.

God simply withdrew the hand of His protection.

c) NT perspective

The Holy Spirit within believers will be with us forever. (Rom 8:9-11, 1 Cor 6:19-20).

3-3) What do Saul’s attendants suggest to him to make him feel better? (15-17)  

a) An evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 

Saul’s servants noticed that Saul’s problem was spiritual. 

b) Search for someone who can play the harp. You will feel better. 

Although they saw this is spiritual problem, but, they did not ask God’s help.

Rather choose the music: playing the harp. They chose to solve it with music.

c) Music has spiritual influence. 

God wants us to use music to worship Him (Rev 14:2-3)

Music can be used for good or for evil, because it is such a spiritually powerful tool.

3-4) Who is suggested? (18) 

a) David was suggested to be Saul’s worship leader. 

Skillful in playing the harp

Brave warrior (1Sam 17:34-35)

Speaks well [prudent in speech] 

A fine-looking man (1Sam 16:12).

The Lord is with him: David was obeying God; submitting to Him. 

3-5) How does David become one of Saul’s armor-bearers? (19-22) 

a) Saul sent messengers to Jesse and Jesse sent David to Saul. 

David: after anointed by Samuel, he simply went back to the sheep. 

He probably did not understand the significance of the anointing at that time. 

b) Saul liked David very much, and he became his armor-bearer: 

3-6) How does David serve Saul? (23)

a) Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul,

David played his harp and then Saul felt better. 

Because the evil spirit would leave him. 

In Conclusion, 

We can overcome our grief when we trust God’s goodness and his sovereignty. 

Although, man looks on the outside, God looks at the heart. Outward appearance is deceptive and fleeting away. What matters to God is our hearts. Our hearts must be filled with the beauty of Jesus Christ. May God bless us to be united with Christ so that we can be men/women after God’s own hearts in our generations. 

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