Feast: Two Hearts in the Bible
#FT26-06B
David F. Maas
Given 01-Oct-26; 20 minutes
description: Scripture distinguishes between two fundamental spiritual states: a heart distant from God, exemplified by King Saul's outward religiosity masking inner pride and disobedience, and a heart after God, embodied by David's repentant faithfulness. While Saul prioritized human approval and justified his failures, David demonstrated that true virtue lies not in perfection but in the willingness to return to God with humility and contrition. The core issue is not merely behavior but the condition of the heart itself, which Proverbs identifies as the source of life and the primary object of God's desire. For those who have drifted or feel spiritually cold, the promise is not a superficial repair but a complete transformation through the gift of a new heart in Christ. This renewed nature manifests in a love for Scripture, a desire for genuine fellowship with God, and a life marked by forgiveness and holiness, inviting every believer to honestly examine their inner state and surrender completely to God's grace.
transcript:
Let's turn in our Bibles to I Samuel 13:14. I Samuel 13:14. But No, your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man, David, after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over his people, because you have not kept, obeyed what the Lord commanded you. That's the amplified Bible. Now turn to Acts 13:22. Acts 13:22. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be the king. Of him, he testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. Conforming to my will and purposes and will do all my will amplified. Let's go back to Ezekiel 336:26. Ezekiel 36:26. Moreover, I will give you A new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Today, I want to speak on a subject that touches every one of us. The heart Not the physical heart that pumps blood through our bodies, but the spiritual heart, the center of our thoughts, desires, decisions, and relationships with Almighty God. Throughout the Bible, God is not impressed by outward appearances alone. He looks beyond our accomplishments, our reputation, and even our religious activities. God looks at the heart. First, Samuel 167, we read, what the Lord said to Samuel, do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. Because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not him, sees not as a man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. As we study God's word today, we will discover that there are two kinds of hearts revealed throughout scripture. One, a heart that is far from God, and two, a heart that seeks after God. That question for each of us is simple. Which heart describes me? Let's look at the heart that is far from God. Our first example is King, King Saul. Saul looked like the perfect king. He was tall, handsome, admired by the people. Outwardly, he appeared successful. Yet inwardly, his heart slowly drifted away from God. He became more concerned with pleasing people than obeying God. Uh, he allowed pride to replace humility. He justified his disobedience instead of repenting. When Samuel confronted Saul, Saul tried to explain away his sin. God rejected Saul because he made one mis not because he made one mistake, but because his heart refused to fully surrender. We can see this in I Samuel 13:8 through 14. Now, Saul waited 7 days according to the appointed time which Samuel had set. But Samuel, who had not come to Gilgal, And the people were scattering away from Saul. So Saul said, bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering, which he was forbidden to do. The amplified Bible I, I was referring to. Most of these are the, the amplified. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel finally came. Saul went out to meet and to welcome him, but Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Well, since I saw that the people were scattering away from me and you did not come within the appointed time, and the Philistines were assembling at Mi Miknash Uh, I, therefore, I said, now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, which I have not asked for the Lord's favor by making supplication. So I forced myself to, to offer the burnt offering. Samuel said to Saul, You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, for if you had obeyed, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom will not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man, David, a man after his own heart. And the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over his people because you have not kept, obeyed what the Lord commanded you. Many people today have the same struggle. They may attend church, they certainly know the Bible verses. They may even have memorized the songs and can look at the words can look at, can sing them without the words. Yet their heart remains distant. Uh, Jesus warned about this situation in Matthew 15:8-9. The, this, this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, for they teach as doctrine, the precepts of men. It is certainly possible to have religion without relationship to Almighty God or Jesus Christ. It, it's certainly possible to look faithful while becoming spiritually empty. His he desires more than our attendance. God Almighty more than our service. He wants our unqualified surrender. Now, what about David's heart? David was not perfect. He made serious mistakes. He sinned. He failed. He experienced seasons of weakness. X 13 22 After removing him, Saul, he raised up David as her king and testified about him. I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man loyal to me who will carry out all my will. That's from the Holman. Christian standard Bible. Why would God say this about David? Not because David never sinned, but Because David always returned. When confronted David repented. When he fell, he sought after God's forgiveness. When he failed, he humbled himself. Psalm 51, this is also from the Holman Bible, 10. Gives us David's prayer after his sin. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from, from From you Do not banish me from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from me. David understood almost every believer needs to know. God alone can restore a broken heart. Only God Almighty can cleanse a sinful heart. Only God Almighty can renew a weary heart. This is good news for every one of us. None of us are perfect, but all of us can have hearts. That continually seek God. What kind of heart Does God want? God desires a Uh, surrender heart. Proverbs 23 says, my son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways. This is a Holman Bible again. Notice God, God did not ask for money. He did not ask for our talents for service. God Almighty asked for our heart. He has our priorities. Everything flows from the heart. Proverbs 4:32 tells us, guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Our words come from the heart. Our attitude comes from the heart, and our actions come from the heart. Especially our relationships of our heart. If it is healthy, the life begins to reflect Christ. God can give us a new heart, perhaps. Someone out here today feels discouraged. Maybe you have backslid or, or, or failed. Maybe you have wandered dangerously off from God's path and have become spiritually cold. Here is a wonderful promise of God. Let's turn to Ezekiel 36:26, which says, I will give you a new heart. And put a new spirit within you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh from the hole and againnotice God doesn't simply patch up the old heart. He gives us a new one. Through Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed. The angry become peaceful, the selfish become generous, the bitter become forgiving, the fearful become faithful, only. Christ Jesus can change the human heart. Education cannot do it. How do we know if our heart belongs to Almighty God? Well, here are signs of a heart that belongs to God. A heart after God loves His word. Psalm 119 declares the joy found in God's commandments. Psalm 119:126 to 128. It's time for the Lord to act, for they have violated your instruction. 127. Since I love your commands more than gold, even Purest of gold. 128. I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false weight. A heart after God desires prayer. Prayer certainly becomes more than a duty. It becomes, it becomes fellowship with our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. A heart A heart After forgives Others because we have been forgiven much. 3 A heart after God serves humbly, not for recognition, but out of love. A heart after God seeks holiness, but continual growth every day, becoming more like. Jesus Christ. Uh, we must now be careful to guard our hearts. Even believers must guard their heart. The world constantly competes for our attention. Temptation seeks to distract us. Bitterness can harden us. Pride can deceive us. Fear can weaken our faith. That's why Proverbs 4:23 says, watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life amplified. How do we guard our hearts? We guard our hearts by reading scripture daily. Praying faithfully, worshiping consistently, fellowshipping with believers, and quickly confessing sin and keeping Jesus Christ first. The condition of tomorrow's life depends on today's heart. If it is Jesus, if it is Jesus who changes hearts throughout his ministry, Jesus trans trans transformed hearts. He changed Zacchaeus from a dishonest tax collector into a generous man. He changed Peter from a fearful disciple into a bold. Preacher Uh, he changed Mary Magdalene from bondage into into freedom. He changed Paul from persecutor to, into apostle, and he's still changing hearts today. His, no heart is too hard, no past is too sinful, no failure is too great. God specializes in changing hearts. Two hearts before God. Ultimately, every person stands before God with one of two hearts. One heart resists God, the other receives Him. One depends on self. The other depends on grace. He lives in pride. The other walks in humility. One rejects Christ, one, the other trusts Christ. The difference is complete, total unqualified surrender. As we close today, I want each of us to examine our hearts. Not our neighbor's heart. Not our spouse's heart. Not our children's heart. Our own Let's look at how David prayed. Turn to Psalm 139:23. Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. That's a courageous prayer. Maybe God will reveal pride. Maybe unforgiveness. Maybe a fear. Maybe spiritual laziness. Whatever he reveals, he offers grace to heal. God is still looking for hearts that belong completely to Him. He's looking for faithful people. He's looking for humble people. He's looking for surrendered people. The greatest. Decision we can make is to Uh, give him our whole heart. If our hearts have grown distant from God, today is the day to return. Trust in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. If you've become discouraged as you walk, ask God to renew your heart. Remember God's promise. Psalm 51:10. Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. And remember, God's subsequent promise. Uh-huh. Moreover, Ezekiel 36:26. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh. And give you a heart of flesh. May each of us leave today with our hearts to love God, trust God, and obey God and seek Him seek Him more every day.
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