Dear Mt. Olive
Family and Friends,
It's likely that you haven't heard of him, but you know much
about his great-grandfather. His
great-grandfather was a renowned king and a writer of inspiring (and inspired)
poetry. His great-grandfather was also
guilty of crimes that today would yank him from his throne and land him in the
electric chair. His name was
Abijah. His great-grandfather was David.
That's why I
find this reference to Abijah in I Kings interesting, to say the least: "He committed all the sins his father
had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as
the heart of David his forefather had been," (I Kings 15:3). Abijah had gone the way of Rehoboam his
father, the way of idolatry. But it's
the last part of the verse that I find utterly amazing - the complimentary
reference to David.
Yes, David was
honored as king for forty long years. He
was privileged to have two cities,
But David also
had a closet full of ugly skeletons. He
was a less-than-ideal husband and a far-from-perfect father. As a result, one of his sons became a rapist,
and another a murderer. His home was an
incessant war zone where peace remained a distant dream. His defiled daughter lived out her days a
desolate woman, and his rebellious son brought him shame and disgrace, yet it
broke his heart when he learned of his violent death.
When reading
from David's Spirit-breathed diary, the lament and pain within his wounded
heart become most vivid and clear. He
struggled. He hurt. He cried.
He wrestled with men; he wrestled with his flesh; he wrestled with
Satan; he wrestled with God. He was weak
and often fell. He broke every
commandment. In short, he was just like
you and me!
So why the
divine tribute? Why is David called "a man after the Lord's own
heart." (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22)?
Others could justifiably find less complimentary terms for this sinful
mortal.
The answer has
to do with David's heart. He knew that
his heart, that is, his true, inner self, his feelings, attitudes, thoughts,
intentions, and motives, were less than pure.
He was brutally honest with himself and his God. Knowing the corruption of his own heart he
prayed, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit
within me," (Psalm 51:10). He
was surely in complete agreement with the words recorded by his son, "Who can say, 'I have kept my heart
pure; I am clean and without sin?'"
(Prov 20:9).
Even more,
however, the answer lies in God's heart.
The Lord, who looks upon the heart as opposed to a person's outward
appearance, is not offended by our honesty.
Quite the contrary. His
displeasure comes when He finds a proud and faithless heart that feels no need
for confession and forgiveness.
In the heart of
God lies an undying love and unending longing for lost sinners. Lost sinners like David. Lost sinners like you and me. His heart beats with compassion for us
all. His heart longs for us to come
Home.
As Valentine's
Day approaches, talk of hearts increases.
Beautiful poetry is exchanged.
Tender words are whispered.
Hearts are warmed by human love.
This is good.
Even better is
the opportunity we have each day to reflect upon the tender heart of God, to be
warmed by His love, and to ponder our relationship with Him. The writer to the Hebrews encourages, "Let us draw near to God with a sincere
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us
from a guilty conscience..."
(Hebrews 10:22). Quite an
invitation! It comes from an amazing
God! A sincere heart is one that is
honest and contrite before God and that rests, by faith, on Jesus. Such a heart (conscience) is cleansed of all
guilt through the sacred blood of Jesus that was sprinkled on the altar of the
cross.
Amazingly, our
merciful God of grace has chosen to take up residence within our hearts. Consider this: while God is on His throne in heaven, He is,
at the same time, at home in each believer's heart. Isn't that remarkable? Jesus is the only King whose kingdom is the
heart!
But while my
lips sing "To Thee my heart I offer, O Christ-child sweet and dear,"
(Hymn #43, CW) that same heart knows how sinister and evil it really is. It knows itself to be false and fickle and
faithless. It accurately discerns itself
to be disloyal, deceitful and even devious.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist but only a candid inner glimpse to
see the truth of God's words, "every
inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood," (Genesis 8:21). And, as Jesus reminds us, from a contemptible
heart flows contemptible deeds: "For out of the heart come evil
thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony,
slander," (Matthew 15:19).
That Jesus
should choose to make His home in my heart is beyond me! Exactly!
It is beyond me, beyond us all.
It is of God. There is no greater
love!
God looks for
broken hearts, hearts that have been crushed by the Law. He cherishes hearts have been battered and
bruised and that long for rest in His bosom. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
heart, O God, you will not despise," (Psalm 51:17).
Hold my heart in
Your healing hands,
Take my thoughts
and help me understand;
Help me break
without falling apart,
In Your hands I
place my hurting heart.*
Though my heart
rarely makes a presentable home for Jesus, - indeed, it is incapable of ever
doing so, - He moves in nonetheless. He
begins to remodel and renovate. And each
time I fill His home with my garbage, He dumps it at the foot of His
cross. At the same time, He creates a
longing within me, a longing to be more like Him. A longing to sin no more. A longing to turn every portion of my inner
being over to Him.
Not that it's
easy! Nor will such a transformation ever
be complete this side of eternity.
Satan, the allurements of this sin-infested world, and my own weak and
sinful flesh also seek to claim my heart.
The battles are long and the fighting fierce. The agony of defeat seems a more regular
occurrence than the thrill of victory.
Pain, heartache, confusion, doubt, uncertainty, plague life and
complicate reality. So it is with all of
us who embrace Jesus as Savior and Lord.
But ...
Jesus, He meets
you where you are.
Jesus, He heals
your secret scars.
All the love
you're longing for is Jesus,
The Friend of a wounded heart.**
True love will
never turn it's back on us though we slip and fall and slip again. True love will continue to hug us in our
weakness and hold us up in our frailty.
Jesus Christ is true Love! His
heart brings hope and help and healing.
David was,
indeed, a man after the Lord's own heart.
So am I. So are you. Not because any of us have earned such
distinction, but because - only because - God's heart is big enough to embrace
and enfold weak and frail sinners and to welcome all who come humbly into His
presence. Sometimes the simplest of
prayers speak the profoundest thoughts of the heart:
Dear God,
I'm sorry!
I really am.
That's all I
have to say today;
You understand.
Thank you. Amen.***
Your heart is in
good hands! Nail-scarred hands! And He
who holds your heart in His hands also holds you in His heart. Thank you, dear Jesus, for the precious love
of your tender heart!
Sharing His
love,
* "Hold
My Heart" song by Annie Herring
** "Friend
of a Wounded Heart" song by Wayne Watson
*** from "A Second Look" poem by Gerhard E. Frost
(This article first appeared in the
February, 1996, Olive Branch.)