Change our hearts (1 Samuel)

Saul has all the advantages to be a successful man and leader:

 These are what 1 Sam 9-11 say about him
  • Handsome and tall (9:2)
  • A humble man (9:21)
  • God's blessing (10:6, 9-10)
  • Support of good people (10:24)
  • Skills in Leadership and Wars (11:11)

However, success is not our assessment but God's assessment. God removed Saul from being king. He failed the king mission.

The one disadvantage Saul has is his heart was not right with God. In 1 Sam 13, he did not have the patience to wait for Samuel and went ahead to perform the burnt offering and peace offering. Saul knew the laws only allowed a priest to do so. (Samuel was a prophet and a priest - 1 Sam 2:18; 7:9)

Samuel said to Saul: "But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” (1 Sam 13:14)

Saul did not kept God's command, because he did not love God. Those who love God will obey god. He loved his power, his kingship, his fame. When he was proved wrong, he did not repent.

David put God above all things. even when he failed he repented.

Prov 4:23 says: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

We need to change our values, as values are from the heart. You can be serving the church but if your heart is not right, you will never succeed 

When Samuel went to the family of Jesse, he chose the elder as king as he was good looking. but God rejected all of Jesse's seven sons, accept David, the eight and youngest son. (1 Sam 16)

Who will mold the child's heart? Parents! But if they are both distracted by work or TV or other interests, then they can't mold him .

When god brought back the Jews from Babylon, the main change He need to change is their hearts. Because they have been away from God for so long that their hearts are strayed from God. 

Isaiah 29:13 says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."

Many people takes a long time to change their heart, eg Abraham, Moses, Joseph, etc .. 

Sometimes when we go through hard times, we pray that the circumstances will change, but we don't pray for ourselves to change our hearts. Suffering is a way God molds our heart.

Even if the suffering is on our loved ones, we should also pray that our hearts will change, not just on miracles to heal him.

We should never assume that our suffering is a punishment of our sins. Our sins have been forgiven, but our hearts still need discipline to change and to be like Christ. 

Do not expect circumstances or other people to change - that is up to God. Situation change may not lead to heart change. Our job is to change our heart to love God and to love others.

When our heart change, we learn to love people, even if they used to be irritable. Changing our hearts will change our lives.








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