Sermon Title: God Looks on the Heart
Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 16:1–23
1. Key Scriptures
• 1 Samuel 16:1–23
• 1 Samuel 13:14
• Psalm 78:70–72
• Psalm 144:1–2
• Isaiah 53:2
• Romans 1:24
• Romans 8:28
• 2 Corinthians 4:7
• 2 Timothy 4:7–8
• Luke 22:26
• Philippians 2:6–8
2. Sermon Flow & Takeaways
I. God’s Grief and God’s Initiative (vv. 1–5)
God gently rebukes Samuel’s prolonged mourning and calls him forward into obedience and trust.
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Faith must keep moving even while the heart is still grieving.
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God’s purposes are not paralyzed by human disappointment or disobedience.
II. God’s Choice and Human Sight (vv. 6–10)
Samuel, like us, is tempted to judge by appearance, but God looks at the heart.
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In a world obsessed with platform and polish, God sees through to what is real.
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The church must become a community that values spiritual depth over superficial impressiveness.
III. The Anointing of the Underdog (vv. 11–13)
David is overlooked by everyone else, but seen, chosen, and anointed by God in obscurity.
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God often does His most formative work in hidden places.
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Faithfulness in obscurity prepares us for fruitfulness in calling.
IV. The Shepherd Sent to a Tormented King (vv. 14–23)
God places David in the court of Saul, not to conquer, but to minister with Spirit-filled presence.
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The Spirit equips us not just for power, but for presence and patient service in hard places.
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Jesus, the greater David, comes into our torment not to dominate but to heal and redeem.
3. Primary Sources (Cited)
• Robert D. Bergen, 1 & 2 Samuel (New American Commentary)
• Charles H. Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 11: “Who Are Elected?”
• Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible
• Carl Friedrich Keil & Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament
• Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture
4. Additional Resources
• The Lord Looks at the Heart – Desiring God article on 1 Samuel 16
• The Life of David – Audio series by Alistair Begg (Truth For Life)
• Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund – explores Christ's heart for the overlooked and broken
• The Jesus Storybook Bible, “The Young Hero and the Horrible Giant” – a helpful retelling of David’s early life for family discipleship