When God rejected Saul as king, Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to identify and anoint his replacement. God worked through Samuel to identify David, but God’s method of choosing differed from Samuel’s expectations. When Eliab, Jesse’s eldest, appeared, Samuel anticipated a quick decision: “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” (1 Sam. 16:6). Samuel quickly learned that more was involved: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
Jesse had eight sons (1 Sam. 17:12), yet he brought only seven before Samuel. One by one, the verdict was “the Lord had not chosen this one” (1 Sam. 16:8-10). Samuel rightly suspected that someone was missing. He asked, “Are all the young men here?” (1 Sam. 16:11). David was then brought in from his shepherd duties. His outward appearance was no disappointment (1 Sam. 16:12), but Samuel had learned that he was incapable of making the assessment that God alone could make. Finally, God told Samuel, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” (1 Sam. 16:12). David possessed the kind of heart for which God was looking.
What does it mean to have such a heart? After Saul’s disobedience, Samuel announced, “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). In Acts 13:22, Paul explains that David was chosen because he would “do all of ” God’s Will. Thus, a fundamental quality of a God-pleasing heart is a desire to obey God. This principle is not limited to kings. In 1 Samuel 12:24, during Saul’s confirmation, Samuel admonished all of Israel, “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart.” Even for Christians, the heart is central to our obedience: we have “obeyed from the heart” (Rom. 6:17), we worship in song from the heart (Eph. 5:19), and we give as we purpose in our heart (2 Cor. 9:7).
Can we discern what God expects to find when He looks at our hearts? Near the end of his reign, David counseled Solomon, “Know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chron. 28:9). Three qualities stand out. First, a loyal heart—undivided allegiance to God. Second, a willing mind—service that is not reluctantly offered. Third, honest intent—a sincere desire to please God rather than to act for show.
Before mere men, loyalty, willingness, and intent can be disguised. Before God, they cannot. His Word “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). As we stand before Him, God does not only assess what we have done—He examines the heart behind the action. It is important to point out that what God approved of in David was a heart faithful in direction, though not always to perfection (Ps. 51). May we live so that His examination of our hearts renders the same verdict stated concerning David: This is the one.
-Joey Davis