The Heart-Shot of A King
(6 minutes)
The heart-shot comes to steal our tenderness and vulnerability. King David suffered a heart-shot in his youth that he was never healed from.
In Psalm 51 we get a significant piece of David's story. Religion used this verse to teach us that everyone is a dirty, rotten totally depraved sinners from the moment they're born, but that has nothing to do with what David is trying to convey. David is trying to give us insight into how he was brought into the world. He was the product of his father's failure, a constant reminder of dad's adulterous affair with another woman.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)
Can you imagine being David in a family that was whole before he showed up? The black sheep in the family? Now we know why David was put out with the sheep. David didn't receive the love and acceptance that a son and daughter need from their parents. Like Pastor Tim said on Sunday, David wasn't the recipient of any long hugs growing up. David was treated like a mistake. But one day a prophet sends an announcement that he's coming to Jesse's house to anoint the next King of Israel.
“Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:5-7)
Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)
The biggest moment in this family's life is happening, and Jesse fails to include his youngest son. But Yahweh is not looking at the outward appearance. Yahweh shows up at Jesse's house and He's looking at the hearts, and He finds the one that is the most broken and says, "I choose you."
Understanding the beginning of David's life is going to be important as we witness what comes next. Seeing that David suffered a heart-shot in his youth that produced a broken heart is going to be an important piece of the puzzle as we see how David's life unfolds. David goes on and because his broken heart is never healed, he allows it to dictate what he does and does not do.
Where did the heart-shot come from for you?
What moment stole your tenderness and vulnerability?
This walk with Abba will require honesty, and honesty is the first step into intimacy. We must be honest about where we are and what got us here.
Will you allow Abba to walk back into that moment with you and heal your heart? David's life shows us that you can be beloved (David's name means "beloved"), you can love God and God can love you, you can be known by Yahweh as a man or woman after His own heart, and still not be healed of a broken heart. And, subsequently, you can live a life that no one would trade you for. That's the case with King David. It doesn't have to be the case with you.
Beloved One, take Abba's hand and walk back into the moment where the heart-shot came. When you get there, allow Him to speak the truth over your heart. His voice will heal what the enemy came to steal. Your innocence has been restored. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape Abba's notice. He chooses you every single time!
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Worship: "After You" by UPPERROOM
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