God's Sovereign Choice: Seeing Beyond Outward Appearances

Devotional

Day 1: God's Perspective Transcends Outward Appearances

God's perspective is not influenced by outward appearances but is aligned with His eternal purposes. This challenges us to look beyond the superficial and seek to understand God's will in our lives. In 1 Samuel 16, God’s choice of David as king illustrates this truth. While humans often judge based on what they see, God looks deeper, into the heart and intentions. This understanding invites us to trust in God’s wisdom and to seek His guidance in our own lives, knowing that His plans are perfect and His purposes are always accomplished according to His heart. [01:05]

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to judge by appearances? How can you begin to seek God's perspective instead?

Day 2: A Man After God's Own Heart

The phrase "a man after God's own heart" emphasizes God's sovereign choice rather than human qualities. It reminds us that God's selection is based on His divine will, not our merit. David was chosen not because of any inherent godliness but because he was the man God had chosen according to His divine will. This perspective shifts the focus from human qualities to God’s sovereign choice and electing love. It encourages us to trust in God’s plan and to seek to align our hearts with His purposes. [06:33]

Acts 13:22 (ESV): "And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’"

Reflection: What steps can you take today to align your heart more closely with God's will and purposes?

Day 3: God's Electing Love

God's electing love is grounded in His perfect and sovereign will, not in any peculiar fondness for an individual. This assures us that God's plans are rooted in His eternal purposes. The narrative of David’s selection as king illustrates that God’s choices often defy human expectations, inviting us to trust in His wisdom and timing. This understanding encourages us to rest in the knowledge that God’s love and plans for us are perfect, even when they don’t align with our own expectations. [09:25]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: How can you find peace in knowing that God's love and plans for you are perfect, even when they don't align with your own expectations?

Day 4: Trusting God's Sovereign Will

The narrative of David's selection as king illustrates that God's choices often defy human expectations, inviting us to trust in His wisdom and timing. This theme is consistent throughout Scripture, as seen in God’s choice of Israel, Jerusalem, and ultimately, Jesus Christ. The fulfillment of God’s purposes is found in Christ, who, despite appearing as anything but the chosen one while on the cross, was indeed fulfilling God’s plan of salvation. This narrative invites us to trust in God’s sovereign will, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours. [13:14]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you begin to surrender this area to His sovereign will today?

Day 5: Fulfillment in Christ

The fulfillment of God's purposes is ultimately found in Jesus Christ, whose life and sacrifice reveal the depth of God's love and the perfection of His plan for salvation. Despite appearing as anything but the chosen one while on the cross, Jesus was fulfilling God’s plan of salvation. This understanding invites us to trust in God’s sovereign will, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours and that His purposes are always accomplished according to His heart. It encourages us to find hope and assurance in the life and sacrifice of Christ. [16:07]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: How does the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ give you hope and assurance in God's perfect plan for your life?

Sermon Summary

In our study of 1 Samuel 16, we explored the profound truth that God’s perspective is vastly different from ours. Unlike humans, who often judge based on outward appearances, God looks at the heart. This is not to say that our physical appearance is irrelevant, as God has created us with intention, but rather that it holds little weight in His divine purposes. We delved into the translation nuances of verse 7, where it is suggested that God sees according to His heart, meaning His view is shaped by His eternal will and purposes. This understanding shifts our focus from human qualities to God’s sovereign choice.

We examined the selection of David as king, noting that God’s choice was not based on David’s outward attributes or any inherent goodness, but rather on God’s own heart and purposes. This aligns with the idea that God’s electing love is grounded in His sovereign will, not in the merit of the individual. The narrative of David’s anointing serves as a reminder that God’s plans are often hidden from human eyes and that His choices are rooted in His eternal purposes.

Reflecting on the broader biblical narrative, we see that God’s choices, whether it be Israel as His people, David as His king, or Jerusalem as His city, all find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the ultimate chosen servant. This perspective helps us understand the interconnectedness of Scripture and the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan. Even when Jesus hung on the cross, appearing far from the chosen one, it was precisely through this act that God’s purpose of salvation was accomplished.

As we continue to study these passages, we are reminded to trust in God’s sovereign will and to seek His heart in our lives, knowing that His plans are perfect and His purposes are eternal.

Key Takeaways

1. God's perspective is not influenced by outward appearances but is rooted in His eternal purposes. This challenges us to look beyond the superficial and seek to understand God's heart and will in our lives. [01:25]
2. The translation of 1 Samuel 16:7 highlights that God sees according to His heart, emphasizing His sovereign will over human attributes. This understanding encourages us to trust in God's divine choices, knowing they are grounded in His perfect wisdom. [02:43]
3. God's choice of David as king was not based on David's qualities but on God's own heart and purposes. This teaches us that God's electing love is not about our merit but about His sovereign will, reminding us to rely on His grace. [09:25]
4. The interconnectedness of Scripture reveals that God's choices, from Israel to David to Jesus, are part of His redemptive plan. This perspective helps us see the Bible as a unified story of God's salvation, culminating in Christ. [16:07]
5. Even when circumstances seem contrary to God's promises, like Jesus on the cross, we can trust that His purposes are being fulfilled. This encourages us to have faith in God's plan, even when it is not immediately visible. [16:51]
** [16:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - God's Perspective vs. Human Perspective
[02:21] - Translation Insights: Seeing According to the Heart
[03:40] - God's Eternal Purpose
[04:51] - The Anointing of David
[06:09] - A Man After God's Own Heart
[07:38] - Linguistic Insights
[09:06] - God's Sovereign Choice
[10:19] - David's Reflection on God's Goodness
[11:28] - The Consistency of God's Heart
[12:43] - The New King According to God's Heart
[14:12] - Misunderstanding God's Choice
[15:38] - God's Electing Love
[16:22] - Fulfillment in Christ
[18:36] - The Unexpected Choice of David

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: 1 Samuel 16

Bible Reading:
- 1 Samuel 16:1-13
- Ephesians 1:11
- Deuteronomy 7:7-8

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Observation Questions:

In 1 Samuel 16:7, what does God say about how He views people compared to how humans do? How does this relate to the selection of David as king? [01:25]
How does the translation of 1 Samuel 16:7, as discussed in the sermon, differ from the traditional understanding, and what does it imply about God's perspective? [02:43]
What was the significance of David being chosen as king despite not being the obvious choice among his brothers? [18:06]
How does the sermon explain the phrase "a man after God's own heart" in relation to God's choice of David? [06:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does understanding that God sees according to His heart, as opposed to human eyes, change the way we perceive God's choices and actions in our lives? [03:18]
What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's electing love and how it is not based on human merit? How does this understanding affect our view of grace? [09:25]
How does the interconnectedness of Scripture, as discussed in the sermon, help us see the Bible as a unified story of God's salvation plan? [16:07]
In what ways does the sermon encourage us to trust in God's sovereign will, even when circumstances seem contrary to His promises? [16:51]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you judged someone based on outward appearances. How can you begin to see others as God sees them, focusing on the heart rather than external attributes? [01:25]
How can you apply the understanding that God's choices are based on His eternal purposes to your own life decisions and trust in His plan? [03:18]
In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's sovereign will? How can you remind yourself of His perfect wisdom and eternal purposes in those situations? [16:51]
How does the concept of God's electing love challenge your understanding of grace and merit? How can this perspective change the way you view yourself and others? [09:25]
Consider the interconnectedness of Scripture and God's redemptive plan. How can this understanding deepen your appreciation for the Bible and its teachings? [16:07]
When have you felt like circumstances in your life were contrary to God's promises? How can you find encouragement in the story of Jesus on the cross and God's ultimate purpose being fulfilled? [16:51]
Identify one specific way you can seek to understand God's heart and will in your life this week. What steps will you take to align your actions with His eternal purposes? [03:18]

Sermon Clips

and I was honest enough to tell you that I was influenced in this in my study as a result of the particular work of a professor from Australia so what what Woodhouse has done is provided a more literal translation of the closing part of verse seven and this is how he translates it directly from the Hebrew for the Lord sees not as man sees for man sees according to the eyes but the Lord sees according to the heart [00:02:07]

in other words we see things with the eyes which of course inevitably we do and God sees things according to the heart that is according to his heart which means that God views everything according to his own intentions according to his own purposes in fact if you like the point of view of God is determined by his will [00:03:07]

the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and the Lord has commanded him to be Prince over his people all right so that statement a man after his own heart if you've been around the Bible any length of time at all and hear this verse expounded any time at all you will know that it is usually expounded in such a way as to suggest that what is described there is a particularly Godly Man [00:05:36]

but in actual fact what it means is that the man is a man of God's own choosing he is a man after God's heart in in other words um it's not it's not that the man's heart is full of God but that it is God's heart is focused on the man now those of you who want to just press a button here for a moment can do so [00:06:23]

what would that sound like then in English how would it differ this is how it would read according to his own heart the Lord has sought out a man thereby radically altering the notion because the notion is again that somehow or another God is looking for a very special man in whose heart there is a particular affection for God [00:07:38]

but actually a man after God's Own Heart is talking and I don't want to be redundant with repetition but it's talking about the place the man has in God's heart rather than the place God has in man's heart you get that okay now it changes things dramatically doesn't it because what it means is that God's choice [00:08:16]

is not on account of any peculiar fondness that he has for this individual not because he has a particular liking to David a liking that he doesn't share for the other brothers or that David has a peculiar and special quality which makes him attractive to God it doesn't emphasize that what it emphasizes is the fact that God [00:08:41]

because he is God and because he is sovereign is able to divinely select the one who is to be the king and what it has to deal with is the fact of God's electing love rather than some notion of the suitability of a particular individual after one of the service this morning somebody came to me and asked if I had paid attention to another verse [00:09:12]

this is why you see we have an explanation for the choosing of Israel according to God's heart he chose Israel to be his people he chose David to be his King he chose Jerusalem to be his City and all that is represented in that is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ who is his chosen servant [00:15:47]

nobody looked less like the chosen one of God than that mangled body hanging on that cross how could it ever be what purpose was there in this while the purpose of salvation for men and women now we really have only just got to verse 11 haven't we I'm just thinking about the text um because we don't even get a mention of David yet [00:16:49]

God did not choose this new king because of his personal qualities he is as we see from this not the obvious choice the obvious choice was made immediately spontaneously and incorrectly by Samuel backup in verse 6 and now having run through the entire retinue they've all come down uh the the runway as it were they've all stepped forward and given them a chance to look at them all and they've all been rejected [00:17:37]

he sees with his eyes God sees according to his heart so Samuel says no I think it's very important that you bring him here in fact we won't wrap things up until he gets here [00:19:11]

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God's Sovereign Choice: Seeing Beyond Outward Appearances

Devotional

Day 1: God's Perspective Transcends Outward Appearances

Day 2: A Man After God's Own Heart

Day 3: God's Electing Love

Day 4: Trusting God's Sovereign Will

Day 5: Fulfillment in Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Sovereign Choice: Seeing Beyond Outward Appearances

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