It’s difficult to understand, but the Word tells us that although we look on the outside, God looks on the heart. I don’t think there is a passage more perfect to explain this than when we see David pouring out his heart in Psalm 51.

Despite his massive sin and cover up, David was still the “man after God’s own heart.” He was sick with regret and guilt over his sin. It had huge impact on his people, his family and his ability to lead, but the most important thing to David was that his heart was broken by the thought of having hurt his God. Listen to the longing of his heart…

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51:10-12

It wasn’t because he broke some law or crossed a line, but because he knew that his sin broke the heart of God and that was devastating to him. He pleads with the Lord to now take his Spirit from him. He asked God to change him from the inside out because he wanted to pursue God above everything else in his life.

David was an example of a person who was broken before God. From the challenges of his youth as a shepherd, to when he was being chased by the mad king Saul, David had always clung to God as the one who provided his every need and protected him in his times of need. His heart was exceedingly tender before God despite unbearable opposition, and even after a colossal screw-up, David repented and shows us true remorse with a broken heart.

God is still looking for broken hearts. He is looking for those people who care more about what he desires than their own plans or whims. He is looking for a generation of Davids to make him their hope and their delight. A while back we looked at what it takes to be a peacemaker, and the first step to walking with God and being useful in his hands is to walk in humility and brokenness before him. He longs for us to lean on him, and I love the promise of Isaiah 42:3

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

I found it pretty amazing that we also talked about cities of refuge this week. These designated places that a person could flee if they had unintentionally committed the worst of sins. I want to challenge us as a tribe – if we can walk with a broken and humble heart before God, let’s become a city of refuge for those who need to find the ultimate love.

Don’t forget to check out the video below for today’s reading as we kick off Deuteronomy.

Blessings,
Pastor Ryan