1 Samuel - Check Your Heart
1 Samuel reveals the contrast between human ambition and God’s will. Israel demanded a king, rejecting God’s leadership, and was given Saul, a man chosen for his outward appearance. But God sought someone after His own heart—David. This message challenges us to check our hearts by examining three key signs of God’s will: purpose (gifting), passion, and provision. If one is missing, we must pause and seek God’s direction. Ultimately, David’s story points to Jesus, the perfect King, calling us to align our hearts with God’s and trust Him completely.
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Sermon Transcript
1 Samuel – Check Your HeartSermon by Gene SimcoReader’s Version
I was born into a very musical family. In fact, if you had known me in elementary school, you might have called me a band nerd—except I didn’t exactly get great grades. However, I can hardly remember a time when I didn’t know how to play an instrument. In my imagination, it stretches all the way back to infancy, as if I had always been playing the piano or guitar, or some instrument or another.
My family was so musical that when my wife first met them, she said she felt like she had stepped into an episode of The Partridge Family. If you're old enough to remember that show, you know exactly what she meant—a very, very musical family.
But growing up, my best friend was the polar opposite of me. He was extremely athletic, while I was not. In fact, our dads always seemed to be encouraging us to be more like the other. If we were playing basketball in my driveway, my dad would say things like, “Why can’t you be more like him?” And whenever I was over at his house, his dad would always praise my musical abilities. It was almost as if they wished they could swap some of our talents.
He was such a gifted athlete that he would eventually go on to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics, which is no small feat. Meanwhile, I stuck to music.
But one day, as was customary for me as a kid, I must have been mouthing off—because somehow, I found myself invited to try out for a swim team. Not just any swim team, mind you—an Olympic swim team.
Now, without questioning why I was invited—though we’ll get to that later—I agreed to try out. There was just one problem: I had very little experience swimming. You could say it was definitely not my gift. We swam in the community pool during the summers, but two or three months of casual swimming each year wasn’t exactly enough to qualify me for an Olympic swim team.
So when I showed up, I didn’t have all the appropriate gear like the other semi-professional swimmers. They had Speedos, fancy goggles, swim caps—everything a real competitor would wear. Meanwhile, I looked like I had shown up in a Halloween costume. In fact, instead of a Speedo, I probably wore Underoos—if you’re old enough to remember what those were.
Now, if I wasn’t in a Speedo, I was in a slow-do. Cotton clothes in a pool? Not exactly streamlined. But honestly, that was just an excuse for what was about to happen.
The whistle blew—or whatever buzzer they sound to signal the start—and I took off. Or at least, I tried to.
If I’m being honest, I probably didn’t even make it halfway across the pool before I found myself drowning and had to be rescued.
An extremely embarrassing moment.
As I sat there, humiliated, my friend’s father came and sat down next to me. And then he said something poignant and life-changing:
“Eugene,” he said, “stick to music.”
And indeed, that was the life lesson he taught me that day: Stick to what you know. Stick to your gifting.
Today, we’re going to talk about purpose in life—how to recognize your gifting and discern whether your passions align with God’s heart.
We find ourselves continuing in our Alpha and Omega series, where we are overviewing one book of the Bible each week. My hope is that these lessons will entice and excite you into reading the Bible for yourself. But don’t view these as just CliffsNotes versions—I will be leaving out many details intentionally so that you are encouraged to dig deeper and study God’s Word firsthand.
This week, we continue in the book of 1 Samuel.
Last time, we were in the book of Ruth, which served as a bridge from the book of Judges to 1 Samuel. Ruth set up the genealogy of King David, preparing us for the transition from Israel’s time of judges to the monarchy.
Now, think about a time when appearances were deceiving—when someone or something wasn’t what it seemed.
1 Samuel reveals a God who sees beyond appearances—a God who is concerned with the heart.
This book marks a major transition in Israel’s history. The people reject God as their King and demand a human king instead. The dangers of human leadership apart from God’s rule become painfully evident. Yet, even through the chaos, God is at work.
In the midst of it all, God raises up David, a man after His own heart. And David’s life ultimately points us to Jesus—the ultimate King.
In these overviews, we’ve been looking at broader chapter movements. As we've noted in the past, there were no chapter or verse numbers in the original Bibles. In fact, using round numbers, they didn’t really appear until a little earlier than 1500 years into Christianity. So if Christianity is about 2000 years old, for roughly 1500 years—75% of its history—Bibles did not have chapter or verse numbers. Because of this, chapter breaks can sometimes act as interruptions in the text rather than natural divisions.
For these overviews, we are focusing on chapter movements—larger sections that help us see the broader narrative. In 1 Samuel, the book can be divided into three main movements.
Chapters 1 through 7 cover the account of Hannah, Samuel, and the ark, setting up the transition to kingship.
Chapters 8 through 15 focus on Israel’s demand for a king and the reign of Saul, Israel’s first flawed king.
Chapters 16 through 31 shift to the rise of David and the fall of Saul.
So let’s hop right in and look at our first movement: Hannah, Samuel, and the Ark.
In 1 Samuel, we are introduced to a family—Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah. This is a husband with two wives, and if that pattern sounds familiar, it should. We’ve seen this kind of familial structure before, particularly with Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, as well as Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. Then, at the beginning of the book of Ruth, we were introduced to Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, who went on to marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Much like those stories, this book begins with another family, one that sets the stage for the man who will anoint Israel’s king—the man whose name is attributed to this book and possibly its author, Samuel.
The issue within Elkanah’s family is that between his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, Hannah is unable to conceive. She is mocked and tormented by Peninnah, much like how Sarah treated Hagar when she struggled with infertility. In her distress, Hannah finds herself in an interaction with Eli, the high priest at the time. As she is fervently praying, Eli mistakes her for being drunk. But once she explains her deep sorrow and petition before God, Eli assures her that she will indeed bear a son.
Hannah later gives birth to Samuel and dedicates him to the Lord. He is raised in the tabernacle at Shiloh under Eli’s care and grows to become both a priest and a prophet. Each year, Hannah visits him and brings him a new coat, and God blesses her with five more children.
In chapter two, we see Hannah’s song of praise, a powerful declaration of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. At the same time, we are introduced to Eli’s corrupt sons, Hophni and Phinehas. These men abuse their priestly roles, taking meat before it was offered to God, violating the sacrificial system by forcefully claiming the best portions for themselves (1 Samuel 2:13-16). Their corruption does not stop there—they are also seducing women at the entrance of the tabernacle, committing acts of immorality in God’s sacred space. Their wickedness is a stain on Eli’s reputation and a foreshadowing of coming judgment.
In chapter three, God calls Samuel to be His prophet. In a difficult and painful moment, Samuel is given a message from God that Eli and his household are condemned because of the sins of his sons. Though a young boy, Samuel has to deliver this devastating prophecy to Eli, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry.
Chapters four through six recount the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas treat the Ark like a magical good-luck charm, assuming that bringing it into battle will guarantee them victory. But instead, Israel suffers a crushing defeat, and the Ark is taken. There was no prayer, no seeking of God’s guidance—only a superstitious view of God’s presence.
The Ark, however, is no ordinary artifact. While in Philistine hands, it brings plagues upon their cities. The Philistines place it in the temple of their god Dagon, only to find Dagon’s statue toppled over before it. The first time, Dagon was found face down before the Ark. The second time, Dagon’s head and hands were broken off (1 Samuel 5:4), a clear sign of God's supremacy over false gods. Eventually, the Philistines are so afflicted by these disasters that they craft golden replicas of their tumors and rats—symbols of the plagues that tormented them—and send the Ark back to Israel, hoping to rid themselves of its curse.
One of the tragic moments in this account occurs when Eli receives word that the Ark has been stolen. Overcome with shock—not just at the loss of the Ark but also upon hearing that both of his sons were dead—he falls backward, breaks his neck, and dies. Shortly after, Phinehas’ wife, upon hearing of her husband’s death, goes into labor and gives birth to a son. She names him Ichabod, meaning "Where is the glory?" because, in her eyes, the glory of Israel had departed with the loss of the Ark. If you’ve ever heard of the character Ichabod Crane from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the name itself carries a meaning of doom and loss, tracing its origins back to this very moment in Scripture.
In chapter seven, Samuel leads Israel to repentance and victory over the Philistines following the return of the Ark. This marks a turning point, as Israel begins to turn back to God under Samuel’s leadership.
In our second movement, we see that the people demand a king. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel rejects God as their ruler and demands a human king. God tells Samuel, "They are not rejecting you; they are rejecting me." Indeed, the people reject God’s kingship and insist on being like the nations around them.
In 1 Samuel 9–10, Saul is chosen as Israel’s first king. He is exactly what the people would expect in a leader—tall, strong, and imposing. The text describes him as a head taller than everyone else. This is an important detail to remember because it reveals that he was chosen based on outward appearance, not on what was pleasing to God.
In 1 Samuel 11, Saul wins a victory over the Ammonites, which unites Israel under his rule. King Nahash of Ammon threatens to gouge out the right eye of every Israelite in exchange for peace. In response, Saul cuts a bull into pieces and sends it to the tribes of Israel, rallying them to war. This act is reminiscent of the gruesome account in Judges, where a Levite dismembered his concubine to incite the tribes of Israel into battle. The similarity would not have been lost on the Israelites.
In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel warns the people about the consequences of rejecting God as their king. Then, in 1 Samuel 13–15, we see Saul's repeated acts of disobedience, which ultimately lead to God rejecting him as king. The first act of disobedience occurs when Saul fails to wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice as instructed. Meanwhile, Jonathan launches a daring attack against the Philistines and secures a victory, but Saul makes a rash oath that almost costs Jonathan his life.
Saul’s second failure is his disobedience in battle. He is commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites and all they possess, but he keeps the best spoils for himself. When Samuel confronts him, Saul tries to justify his actions, claiming he saved the livestock for sacrifices. But Samuel replies with one of the most famous rebukes in Scripture: "What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."
Because of Saul’s disobedience, God rejects him as king, and in 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel declares, "But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart." That man, of course, is David.
In 1 Samuel 16–31, we see the rise of David and the fall of Saul. David is anointed as king, but Saul remains in power for a time. We are introduced to David’s family as Jesse presents his sons before Samuel. Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea all appear to be strong candidates, but David is absent from the scene. He is not the one anyone expects. Yet God tells Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, "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."
David is anointed, and the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him. Meanwhile, Saul is tormented by an evil spirit, and his servants suggest finding a harpist to soothe him. David is chosen, and he begins to serve Saul in this role, later becoming his armor-bearer. Saul even calls for David by name through Jesse, meaning he knows exactly who he is.
Then we arrive at 1 Samuel 17, one of the most well-known stories in the Bible: David and Goliath. The Philistines are at war with Israel, and each morning, a giant named Goliath taunts the Israelite army, daring them to send a champion to fight him. No one is brave enough to face him.
Jesse sends David to the front lines with food for his brothers and their captain, and David overhears talk of the reward for defeating Goliath. Eliab, David’s eldest brother, gets angry with him, accusing him of just wanting to watch the battle. But Saul hears about David’s interest and questions him. David insists that he can defeat the Philistine, recalling how he has killed bears and lions to protect his sheep.
Saul offers David his armor, but it is too heavy and unwieldy. Many assume this is because David is small, but the real issue is likely that Saul himself is described as a head taller than everyone else. This brings us to an interesting textual variant. Most modern Bibles describe Goliath as nine feet tall, but the Greek Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls state that he was actually six foot nine—only a head taller than the average man. This makes the story even more powerful because it highlights Saul’s cowardice. If Goliath was only slightly taller than the rest of the men, then Saul himself—who was described as the tallest man in Israel—should have been the one to fight him. The fact that he did not underscores his failure as a leader. This is another example of how the Greek Old Testament preserves an earlier and often more accurate reading of the biblical text.
David defeats Goliath with a sling and a single smooth stone. He then cuts off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword. In 1 Samuel 18, Saul’s jealousy begins to grow. But before that, an unusual exchange happens at the end of chapter 17. Saul, after watching David defeat Goliath, asks his general, Abner, "Who is this young man? Whose son is he?" This is confusing because Saul has already interacted with David and even sent for him personally to be his harpist. Some have tried to explain this by saying Saul simply did not recognize him in battle, but this doesn’t hold up. The question isn’t about David himself—it’s about his lineage. Saul should have already known who Jesse was.
Again, if we look at the Septuagint and the oldest Hebrew manuscripts, this passage does not appear. It was added in later texts, which explains the inconsistency. The Greek Old Testament preserves the more logical flow of the story, going straight into Saul’s growing jealousy.
In 1 Samuel 18, Saul’s jealousy turns into a plot to get David killed. The women of Israel sing, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands," and Saul cannot handle it. At first, he offers his daughter Merab in marriage, but David humbly refuses. Then Saul comes up with a plan—he sets a gruesome bride price for his daughter Michal: one hundred Philistine foreskins. David, an overachiever, brings back two hundred. This earns him Michal’s hand in marriage, but it only fuels Saul’s hatred toward him.
In 1 Samuel 21–24, David flees from Saul. A game of pursuit begins, as Saul chases David from place to place. Some of David’s psalms, including Psalm 18, 52, 53, and 57, reflect his emotions during these difficult times.
During his escape, David arrives at Nob and meets Ahimelech the priest, who is visibly uneasy at seeing David alone. When questioned, David deceives Ahimelech by saying, “The king has sent me on a private matter. He told me not to tell anyone why I am here” (1 Samuel 21:2). This lie allows David to secure food and Goliath’s sword from the priest.
Later, Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul’s men, reports this encounter to Saul. Doeg falsely portrays Ahimelech as a conspirator, which enrages Saul. In a brutal act, Doeg personally carries out the execution of eighty-five priests and their families. This tragic event makes David realize the weight of his deception, as he later admits that his actions led to their deaths (1 Samuel 22:22).
In chapter 24, David has an opportunity to kill Saul but chooses to spare him, cutting off a piece of his robe while Saul is relieving himself in a cave. In chapter 25, David is prevented from taking revenge when Abigail, a wise woman, intervenes. Her husband, Nabal, had insulted David’s men, and David was prepared to kill him, but Abigail persuades him otherwise. Shortly after, Nabal suffers a stroke or heart attack and dies, and Abigail becomes David’s wife.
In chapters 26–31, we see Saul’s tragic downfall. David spares Saul’s life again, this time sneaking into his camp and taking his spear and water jug. Saul consults a medium, violating his own laws against witchcraft, and summons the spirit of Samuel, who confirms his doom. In battle, Saul is mortally wounded and falls on his own sword.
A key verse throughout 1 Samuel is 16:7: "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." David’s life reflects God’s choice of a king who trusts Him, ultimately pointing to Jesus, the perfect King.
And indeed, we see many Christophanies, foreshadowings, and fulfillments in First Samuel. We see it in Hannah's prayer in First Samuel 2:1-2: "My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God."
Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving mirrors Mary’s Magnificat, both exalting God for His faithfulness and deliverance. Hannah’s joy in the birth of Samuel prefigures Mary’s joy in the coming of Jesus, the ultimate Deliverer who brings salvation to the world. Yet Hannah’s prayer goes beyond personal gratitude—it contains a prophetic declaration about God’s coming King. In First Samuel 2:10, she declares, "He will give power to His king; He will increase the strength of His anointed one." At this time, Israel had no king, making Hannah’s words remarkable. This prophecy anticipates both David and ultimately Jesus, God’s anointed King.
We see another foreshadowing in Samuel’s leadership, which points to Jesus as the final Prophet. First Samuel 3:10 says, "And the Lord came and called as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel replied, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.’” This moment is pivotal because Samuel is established as a prophet who will faithfully deliver God’s word to Israel. Hebrews 1:1-2 builds upon this theme, saying, "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son." Samuel is a type of prophet pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, who not only speaks God’s word but is the very Word of God made flesh.
The famous story of David and Goliath foreshadows Christ’s victory over evil. In First Samuel 17:45, David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." Colossians 2:15 connects this to Jesus, saying, "In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross."
David’s triumph over Goliath is not just about physical combat; it symbolizes faith in God’s power over human strength. Just as David trusted in God rather than weapons, Jesus conquered sin and death through obedience, not military might. David’s victory over Goliath foreshadows Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin, death, and the forces of evil, securing eternal salvation for all who believe in Him.
We also see it in the anointing of David. First Samuel 16:13 says, "So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took a 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." In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor."
This moment marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, which prophesies the coming of the Messiah. David’s anointing as king serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One. The Spirit coming upon David prefigures the Holy Spirit’s work in Christ’s ministry, marking Him as the One chosen to bring salvation and reign as the King of kings.
And in keeping with our theme, God looks at the heart. First Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." This truth is reinforced in John 7:24, where Jesus says, "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly."
In this passage, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for judging based on outward legalism rather than true righteousness. This moment highlights God’s divine perspective, valuing the heart over outward appearance. It points to Jesus, the perfect King who reigns with justice, righteousness, and divine insight, fulfilling the hope of a leader who embodies God’s will perfectly.
First Samuel shows humanity's rejection of God's leadership, yet it also highlights God's redemptive plan through David, a man after God's own heart. This story ultimately points to Jesus, the perfect King who reigns forever.
We also see that God sees the heart. First Samuel reveals the consequences of rejecting God's leadership but also the hope of redemption through David.
David's life ultimately foreshadows Jesus, the eternal King who reigns in righteousness and calls us to follow Him.
Trust in Jesus, live in faith, and seek to align your heart with God's will, knowing that He sees beyond appearances and desires a relationship with you.
So the question naturally arises—how do we align our heart with God's will for us personally?
Do you have a heart for something? People often ask, "How do I know God's will for my life?" First Samuel gives us clear biblical principles that we can use to discern God's will. Three key signs must be present. If one is missing, we should question whether that path is truly from God. You may have a heart for something, but how do you know if it's what you should do? How do you know if it is in line with God's heart?
So let's look at checking your heart. You may have a heart for something, but is it after God's heart?
The first key is purpose—your gifting. Is it the purpose you want for yourself, or is it God's purpose for you?
The next key is passion. You may be passionate about something, but is that God's passion for you, or is it simply what you want to do?
Finally, we look at provision. This can often be misunderstood. Many times, we try to provide for ourselves and force the other two to align. But we are talking about God's provision. If God is not providing, we need to go back and carefully evaluate.
We must measure these things carefully because Scripture warns us about the heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 – The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 28:26 – Those who trust in their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.
2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
We must align our heart with God's heart, measuring everything against His Word and seeking His will above our own.
So let's check our hearts.
This is how we will check our hearts in aligning them with God's will.
First, purpose. We must ask ourselves, Is this really my gifting? This is step one. An important note is that we must take money out of the equation. Many people try to align their gifting with financial gain. In other words, they may pursue a career they aren’t truly gifted for, simply because it pays well. This can distort judgment, as it places money before calling. But not everyone’s purpose is to make money—if financial gain is the primary motivator, it can pull us away from God's actual calling. Instead, gifting comes first.
We see this principle in First Samuel. David was uniquely prepared as a shepherd before fighting Goliath. His musical talent placed him in Saul's court. Later, he became one of the most famous songwriters in history through the Psalms. Likewise, God prepares and equips us for what He calls us to do—not necessarily what we desire to do.
But we have a problem in our culture. We love the “army of one” story—the tale of the defiant individual who overcomes impossible odds, who refuses to be told what to do, who "swims upstream" and proves everyone wrong. The story of David and Goliath is often told like this, where we are David and our personal struggles are Goliath. But that’s not the point of the story.
We are not the hero—Jesus is.
This mindset feeds into an unbiblical way of thinking. The Old Testament accounts are not meant to be self-help stories, but to point us to Christ. Instead of trying to be David, imagine how much better you could have been at something if you had nurtured your actual God-given purpose instead of trying to force your own.
We saw earlier how Saul’s defiance led to his downfall. First Samuel 15:22-23 says:
"What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king."
We must not rebel against God's gifting or be defiant toward His calling. The “swimming upstream” mentality that praises self-reliance and personal ambition can actually lead us against God's will. Many want to see themselves as David—brave, heroic, chosen—but David, though a man after God's own heart, was deeply flawed.
David’s heart was after God not because of perfection, but because of repentance.
His life teaches us humility, dependence, and repentance—not self-made success. David is not meant to be our example of greatness—he is a flawed example pointing to the true hero—Jesus Christ.
Let’s consider how most of us are not David:
• Could you kill lions and bears with your hands? Probably not.• Could you compose worship songs that have lasted thousands of years? David did.• But you do have a purpose and a gifting from God that is unique to you.
If we keep reading, we see Paul writing to the Corinthian church, who struggled with pride over their spiritual gifts. They sought greater gifts—such as prophecy and tongues—but Paul teaches them something critical in 1 Corinthians 12.
Paul uses a literary device called prosopopoeia, where inanimate objects (like a hand, foot, or ear) "speak" to emphasize their importance. He highlights that each part of the body is necessary—even the ones we might consider "less important" are actually indispensable.
We touched on this last week when discussing missions. A false and sometimes dangerous teaching in the church is that everyone is called to missions. But if we read carefully, that’s simply not true.
Paul asks rhetorically in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30:
"Are all apostles?" (meaning “sent ones”).
The answer is no—not all are apostles.
Then Paul goes on to list other gifts, including prophecy, teaching, and even tongues—making it clear that not everyone is called to the same thing.
Your gifting reveals part of God's will for you. You are uniquely equipped for what God calls you to do—not what someone else is called to do.
Another powerful biblical principle that reinforces this idea comes from Jesus' Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. This parable tells of a master who goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with talents—a form of money but also symbolic of God-given gifts and abilities.
The key detail in this parable is found in verse 15: “He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities.”
God doesn’t distribute gifts randomly—He gives according to each person's ability.
• The first two servants invested what they had been given, multiplied it, and were rewarded for their faithfulness.• The third servant, however, hid his talent, afraid to use it, and was rebuked by the master for his fear and inaction.
This parable teaches several profound truths about our purpose and calling.
First, God gives us gifts based on what we are equipped to handle.
Just like the master gave talents according to ability, God has already prepared and equipped us for what He calls us to do. We are not all given the same gifts, and that’s by design.
Second, God expects us to use and grow our gifts, not bury them.
The first two servants worked with what they had and increased it. God doesn’t expect us to compare our calling to someone else’s—only to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us.
Third, fear and inactivity are the enemies of purpose.
The third servant was afraid, so he did nothing. How often do people say, "I don’t know if I’m good enough," or "I don’t know if this is really my purpose," and so they never move forward? Fear of failure is not an excuse for inaction.
Fourth, God rewards faithfulness, not comparison.
The servant with five talents and the servant with two talents received the same reward—"Well done, good and faithful servant!" This shows us that God isn’t measuring our success by how much we do, but by how faithful we are with what He has given us.
Finally, neglecting our gifts leads to loss.
The last servant not only lost his opportunity, but the talent he had was given to the one who was faithful. When we ignore our calling, we risk missing out on what God had planned for us.
This parable connects directly to 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul emphasizes that we are all different parts of the body, each designed for a specific role. Just as one servant wasn’t expected to handle five talents when he was only given two, we shouldn’t compare our gifts, roles, or purpose to someone else.
Instead of asking, "Why don’t I have what they have?" we should ask, "Am I being faithful with what God has entrusted to me?"
God has already given you what you need to step into your purpose. If He equipped David, if He entrusted talents to His servants, and if He designed the body of Christ with many unique roles, then He has a plan for you—one that aligns with your ability, passion, and calling.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
The question isn’t if you have a purpose. The question is, are you using it?
But how do we actually KNOW if we are walking in our God-given purpose?
Here’s a simple way to check—if you’re swimming, you’re winning. If you’re applying, they’re hiring. If you’re singing, they’re signing.
What does that mean? When you are operating in your gifting, doors will open. If you’re pursuing something and constantly hitting walls, it might be time to step back and re-evaluate if it’s actually God’s purpose or just your own ambition.
• If you’re swimming, you’re winning. In other words, if God has given you the ability, He will provide opportunities for you to grow and move forward. It doesn't mean there won’t be challenges, but if you’re drowning at every step, you may be trying to force something that isn’t your calling.• If you’re applying, they’re hiring. This doesn’t mean you get the first job you apply for, but if God has called you to a field, He will open doors in His timing. If every door stays locked despite preparation and persistence, it’s time to pause and pray.• If you’re singing, they’re signing. Meaning, if your gifting is in music, writing, teaching, or another creative field, there will be affirmation. The right people will recognize your talent and confirm it.
And this brings us to an important truth: affirmation from the Church matters.
God often confirms His calling through the body of Christ. If you believe you’re called to ministry, other believers will affirm it. If you're meant to lead worship, your church will recognize that God is using you in that way. We don’t operate alone in discovering God’s will—He has given us pastors, mentors, and fellow believers to help guide us.
We must be careful not to force a calling that isn’t ours. If no one is affirming you in a particular area, it may be time to ask if it’s really what God has for you.
This ties into the danger of self-serving pursuits.
Many people assume that chasing their personal dreams will bring them happiness, but the truth is, self-serving ambition never leads to true joy.
Passion alone is not enough—if we pursue something simply because it makes us feel good or strokes our ego, we will eventually burn out or become disillusioned. Real joy comes from aligning our passion with God's purpose.
This brings us to the second point: passion.
We must ask, Is it my passion or God's?
We must be passionate about our calling, because passion fuels purpose.
If you are passionate about something, you will put in the work to cultivate that gifting. As a musician, I understand this well—if you love music, you’ll practice. Talent alone isn’t enough; it must be nurtured.
Passion will make your purpose a Priority!
God does not call you to indifference—He stirs your heart.
David couldn’t stand watching Goliath mock God and Israel. His passion for justice, worship, and leadership was evident throughout his life and the Psalms.
In the New Testament, we see Paul’s passion for preaching the Gospel. His heart burned to reach the Gentiles—we see this in Romans 15:20 and Acts 20:24.
Even Jesus Himself showed passion—clearing the temple zealously, declaring, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
So the key question is, is your passion for God’s glory or your own?
This brings us back to the issue of money.
If your passion is driven by money, that is a major red flag. Passion should be for God’s glory—not financial gain or personal achievement.
We must examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us:
"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith."
Are you pursuing this for God’s Kingdom or for personal fulfillment?
Often, we convince ourselves that we are "serving God" when in reality, we are simply feeding our own desires. That is why we must constantly check our hearts.
The final step is provision.
Is God opening doors?
God's provision fuels your purpose and passion.
If this is what God wants you to do, He will provide the resources and opportunities to accomplish it. This is our final test.
If God isn’t providing for it, it’s probably not what He wants you to do.
Despite trials, God provided for David—leading him to kingship, giving him victories, allies like Jonathan, and favor in unexpected places. Trials will exist, just as David faced persecution from Saul, but God’s provision will always be evident.
Paul affirms this in Philippians 4:19:
"And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches."
Paul experienced God's provision through hardship—yet God supplied for him through churches, friendships, open doors, and unexpected resources. In fact, he wrote Philippians while in prison, yet he still declared that God was providing for him.
If you are facing endless closed doors, pause and seek God’s wisdom.
God wants you to know His will—He does not hide it.
He equips, inspires, and provides.
If you are unsure whether something is from God, measure it by these three points:
• Purpose – Are you clearly equipped by God for this?• Passion – Is your heart deeply called to this?• Provision – Is God providing resources and opportunities?
If one or more of these is missing, pause, pray, and seek godly counsel.
Remember—trials do not mean you’re on the wrong path.
First Samuel reveals that God is faithful even when His people reject Him. He raises up leaders, restores the broken, and works through flawed individuals to fulfill His plan.
Trust Him.
If it is your gifting, then you are appointed, anointed, and empowered by God to accomplish your purpose for His glory.
©️ Copyright 2025 Gene Simco Most Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scriptures in brackets reflect the original Biblical languages.
I was born into a very musical family. In fact, if you had known me in elementary school, you might have called me a band nerd—except I didn’t exactly get great grades. However, I can hardly remember a time when I didn’t know how to play an instrument. In my imagination, it stretches all the way back to infancy, as if I had always been playing the piano or guitar, or some instrument or another.
My family was so musical that when my wife first met them, she said she felt like she had stepped into an episode of The Partridge Family. If you're old enough to remember that show, you know exactly what she meant—a very, very musical family.
But growing up, my best friend was the polar opposite of me. He was extremely athletic, while I was not. In fact, our dads always seemed to be encouraging us to be more like the other. If we were playing basketball in my driveway, my dad would say things like, “Why can’t you be more like him?” And whenever I was over at his house, his dad would always praise my musical abilities. It was almost as if they wished they could swap some of our talents.
He was such a gifted athlete that he would eventually go on to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics, which is no small feat. Meanwhile, I stuck to music.
But one day, as was customary for me as a kid, I must have been mouthing off—because somehow, I found myself invited to try out for a swim team. Not just any swim team, mind you—an Olympic swim team.
Now, without questioning why I was invited—though we’ll get to that later—I agreed to try out. There was just one problem: I had very little experience swimming. You could say it was definitely not my gift. We swam in the community pool during the summers, but two or three months of casual swimming each year wasn’t exactly enough to qualify me for an Olympic swim team.
So when I showed up, I didn’t have all the appropriate gear like the other semi-professional swimmers. They had Speedos, fancy goggles, swim caps—everything a real competitor would wear. Meanwhile, I looked like I had shown up in a Halloween costume. In fact, instead of a Speedo, I probably wore Underoos—if you’re old enough to remember what those were.
Now, if I wasn’t in a Speedo, I was in a slow-do. Cotton clothes in a pool? Not exactly streamlined. But honestly, that was just an excuse for what was about to happen.
The whistle blew—or whatever buzzer they sound to signal the start—and I took off. Or at least, I tried to.
If I’m being honest, I probably didn’t even make it halfway across the pool before I found myself drowning and had to be rescued.
An extremely embarrassing moment.
As I sat there, humiliated, my friend’s father came and sat down next to me. And then he said something poignant and life-changing:
“Eugene,” he said, “stick to music.”
And indeed, that was the life lesson he taught me that day: Stick to what you know. Stick to your gifting.
Today, we’re going to talk about purpose in life—how to recognize your gifting and discern whether your passions align with God’s heart.
We find ourselves continuing in our Alpha and Omega series, where we are overviewing one book of the Bible each week. My hope is that these lessons will entice and excite you into reading the Bible for yourself. But don’t view these as just CliffsNotes versions—I will be leaving out many details intentionally so that you are encouraged to dig deeper and study God’s Word firsthand.
This week, we continue in the book of 1 Samuel.
Last time, we were in the book of Ruth, which served as a bridge from the book of Judges to 1 Samuel. Ruth set up the genealogy of King David, preparing us for the transition from Israel’s time of judges to the monarchy.
Now, think about a time when appearances were deceiving—when someone or something wasn’t what it seemed.
1 Samuel reveals a God who sees beyond appearances—a God who is concerned with the heart.
This book marks a major transition in Israel’s history. The people reject God as their King and demand a human king instead. The dangers of human leadership apart from God’s rule become painfully evident. Yet, even through the chaos, God is at work.
In the midst of it all, God raises up David, a man after His own heart. And David’s life ultimately points us to Jesus—the ultimate King.
In these overviews, we’ve been looking at broader chapter movements. As we've noted in the past, there were no chapter or verse numbers in the original Bibles. In fact, using round numbers, they didn’t really appear until a little earlier than 1500 years into Christianity. So if Christianity is about 2000 years old, for roughly 1500 years—75% of its history—Bibles did not have chapter or verse numbers. Because of this, chapter breaks can sometimes act as interruptions in the text rather than natural divisions.
For these overviews, we are focusing on chapter movements—larger sections that help us see the broader narrative. In 1 Samuel, the book can be divided into three main movements.
Chapters 1 through 7 cover the account of Hannah, Samuel, and the ark, setting up the transition to kingship.
Chapters 8 through 15 focus on Israel’s demand for a king and the reign of Saul, Israel’s first flawed king.
Chapters 16 through 31 shift to the rise of David and the fall of Saul.
So let’s hop right in and look at our first movement: Hannah, Samuel, and the Ark.
In 1 Samuel, we are introduced to a family—Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah. This is a husband with two wives, and if that pattern sounds familiar, it should. We’ve seen this kind of familial structure before, particularly with Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, as well as Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. Then, at the beginning of the book of Ruth, we were introduced to Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, who went on to marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Much like those stories, this book begins with another family, one that sets the stage for the man who will anoint Israel’s king—the man whose name is attributed to this book and possibly its author, Samuel.
The issue within Elkanah’s family is that between his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, Hannah is unable to conceive. She is mocked and tormented by Peninnah, much like how Sarah treated Hagar when she struggled with infertility. In her distress, Hannah finds herself in an interaction with Eli, the high priest at the time. As she is fervently praying, Eli mistakes her for being drunk. But once she explains her deep sorrow and petition before God, Eli assures her that she will indeed bear a son.
Hannah later gives birth to Samuel and dedicates him to the Lord. He is raised in the tabernacle at Shiloh under Eli’s care and grows to become both a priest and a prophet. Each year, Hannah visits him and brings him a new coat, and God blesses her with five more children.
In chapter two, we see Hannah’s song of praise, a powerful declaration of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. At the same time, we are introduced to Eli’s corrupt sons, Hophni and Phinehas. These men abuse their priestly roles, taking meat before it was offered to God, violating the sacrificial system by forcefully claiming the best portions for themselves (1 Samuel 2:13-16). Their corruption does not stop there—they are also seducing women at the entrance of the tabernacle, committing acts of immorality in God’s sacred space. Their wickedness is a stain on Eli’s reputation and a foreshadowing of coming judgment.
In chapter three, God calls Samuel to be His prophet. In a difficult and painful moment, Samuel is given a message from God that Eli and his household are condemned because of the sins of his sons. Though a young boy, Samuel has to deliver this devastating prophecy to Eli, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry.
Chapters four through six recount the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas treat the Ark like a magical good-luck charm, assuming that bringing it into battle will guarantee them victory. But instead, Israel suffers a crushing defeat, and the Ark is taken. There was no prayer, no seeking of God’s guidance—only a superstitious view of God’s presence.
The Ark, however, is no ordinary artifact. While in Philistine hands, it brings plagues upon their cities. The Philistines place it in the temple of their god Dagon, only to find Dagon’s statue toppled over before it. The first time, Dagon was found face down before the Ark. The second time, Dagon’s head and hands were broken off (1 Samuel 5:4), a clear sign of God's supremacy over false gods. Eventually, the Philistines are so afflicted by these disasters that they craft golden replicas of their tumors and rats—symbols of the plagues that tormented them—and send the Ark back to Israel, hoping to rid themselves of its curse.
One of the tragic moments in this account occurs when Eli receives word that the Ark has been stolen. Overcome with shock—not just at the loss of the Ark but also upon hearing that both of his sons were dead—he falls backward, breaks his neck, and dies. Shortly after, Phinehas’ wife, upon hearing of her husband’s death, goes into labor and gives birth to a son. She names him Ichabod, meaning "Where is the glory?" because, in her eyes, the glory of Israel had departed with the loss of the Ark. If you’ve ever heard of the character Ichabod Crane from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the name itself carries a meaning of doom and loss, tracing its origins back to this very moment in Scripture.
In chapter seven, Samuel leads Israel to repentance and victory over the Philistines following the return of the Ark. This marks a turning point, as Israel begins to turn back to God under Samuel’s leadership.
In our second movement, we see that the people demand a king. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel rejects God as their ruler and demands a human king. God tells Samuel, "They are not rejecting you; they are rejecting me." Indeed, the people reject God’s kingship and insist on being like the nations around them.
In 1 Samuel 9–10, Saul is chosen as Israel’s first king. He is exactly what the people would expect in a leader—tall, strong, and imposing. The text describes him as a head taller than everyone else. This is an important detail to remember because it reveals that he was chosen based on outward appearance, not on what was pleasing to God.
In 1 Samuel 11, Saul wins a victory over the Ammonites, which unites Israel under his rule. King Nahash of Ammon threatens to gouge out the right eye of every Israelite in exchange for peace. In response, Saul cuts a bull into pieces and sends it to the tribes of Israel, rallying them to war. This act is reminiscent of the gruesome account in Judges, where a Levite dismembered his concubine to incite the tribes of Israel into battle. The similarity would not have been lost on the Israelites.
In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel warns the people about the consequences of rejecting God as their king. Then, in 1 Samuel 13–15, we see Saul's repeated acts of disobedience, which ultimately lead to God rejecting him as king. The first act of disobedience occurs when Saul fails to wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice as instructed. Meanwhile, Jonathan launches a daring attack against the Philistines and secures a victory, but Saul makes a rash oath that almost costs Jonathan his life.
Saul’s second failure is his disobedience in battle. He is commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites and all they possess, but he keeps the best spoils for himself. When Samuel confronts him, Saul tries to justify his actions, claiming he saved the livestock for sacrifices. But Samuel replies with one of the most famous rebukes in Scripture: "What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."
Because of Saul’s disobedience, God rejects him as king, and in 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel declares, "But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart." That man, of course, is David.
In 1 Samuel 16–31, we see the rise of David and the fall of Saul. David is anointed as king, but Saul remains in power for a time. We are introduced to David’s family as Jesse presents his sons before Samuel. Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea all appear to be strong candidates, but David is absent from the scene. He is not the one anyone expects. Yet God tells Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, "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."
David is anointed, and the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him. Meanwhile, Saul is tormented by an evil spirit, and his servants suggest finding a harpist to soothe him. David is chosen, and he begins to serve Saul in this role, later becoming his armor-bearer. Saul even calls for David by name through Jesse, meaning he knows exactly who he is.
Then we arrive at 1 Samuel 17, one of the most well-known stories in the Bible: David and Goliath. The Philistines are at war with Israel, and each morning, a giant named Goliath taunts the Israelite army, daring them to send a champion to fight him. No one is brave enough to face him.
Jesse sends David to the front lines with food for his brothers and their captain, and David overhears talk of the reward for defeating Goliath. Eliab, David’s eldest brother, gets angry with him, accusing him of just wanting to watch the battle. But Saul hears about David’s interest and questions him. David insists that he can defeat the Philistine, recalling how he has killed bears and lions to protect his sheep.
Saul offers David his armor, but it is too heavy and unwieldy. Many assume this is because David is small, but the real issue is likely that Saul himself is described as a head taller than everyone else. This brings us to an interesting textual variant. Most modern Bibles describe Goliath as nine feet tall, but the Greek Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls state that he was actually six foot nine—only a head taller than the average man. This makes the story even more powerful because it highlights Saul’s cowardice. If Goliath was only slightly taller than the rest of the men, then Saul himself—who was described as the tallest man in Israel—should have been the one to fight him. The fact that he did not underscores his failure as a leader. This is another example of how the Greek Old Testament preserves an earlier and often more accurate reading of the biblical text.
David defeats Goliath with a sling and a single smooth stone. He then cuts off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword. In 1 Samuel 18, Saul’s jealousy begins to grow. But before that, an unusual exchange happens at the end of chapter 17. Saul, after watching David defeat Goliath, asks his general, Abner, "Who is this young man? Whose son is he?" This is confusing because Saul has already interacted with David and even sent for him personally to be his harpist. Some have tried to explain this by saying Saul simply did not recognize him in battle, but this doesn’t hold up. The question isn’t about David himself—it’s about his lineage. Saul should have already known who Jesse was.
Again, if we look at the Septuagint and the oldest Hebrew manuscripts, this passage does not appear. It was added in later texts, which explains the inconsistency. The Greek Old Testament preserves the more logical flow of the story, going straight into Saul’s growing jealousy.
In 1 Samuel 18, Saul’s jealousy turns into a plot to get David killed. The women of Israel sing, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands," and Saul cannot handle it. At first, he offers his daughter Merab in marriage, but David humbly refuses. Then Saul comes up with a plan—he sets a gruesome bride price for his daughter Michal: one hundred Philistine foreskins. David, an overachiever, brings back two hundred. This earns him Michal’s hand in marriage, but it only fuels Saul’s hatred toward him.
In 1 Samuel 21–24, David flees from Saul. A game of pursuit begins, as Saul chases David from place to place. Some of David’s psalms, including Psalm 18, 52, 53, and 57, reflect his emotions during these difficult times.
During his escape, David arrives at Nob and meets Ahimelech the priest, who is visibly uneasy at seeing David alone. When questioned, David deceives Ahimelech by saying, “The king has sent me on a private matter. He told me not to tell anyone why I am here” (1 Samuel 21:2). This lie allows David to secure food and Goliath’s sword from the priest.
Later, Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul’s men, reports this encounter to Saul. Doeg falsely portrays Ahimelech as a conspirator, which enrages Saul. In a brutal act, Doeg personally carries out the execution of eighty-five priests and their families. This tragic event makes David realize the weight of his deception, as he later admits that his actions led to their deaths (1 Samuel 22:22).
In chapter 24, David has an opportunity to kill Saul but chooses to spare him, cutting off a piece of his robe while Saul is relieving himself in a cave. In chapter 25, David is prevented from taking revenge when Abigail, a wise woman, intervenes. Her husband, Nabal, had insulted David’s men, and David was prepared to kill him, but Abigail persuades him otherwise. Shortly after, Nabal suffers a stroke or heart attack and dies, and Abigail becomes David’s wife.
In chapters 26–31, we see Saul’s tragic downfall. David spares Saul’s life again, this time sneaking into his camp and taking his spear and water jug. Saul consults a medium, violating his own laws against witchcraft, and summons the spirit of Samuel, who confirms his doom. In battle, Saul is mortally wounded and falls on his own sword.
A key verse throughout 1 Samuel is 16:7: "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." David’s life reflects God’s choice of a king who trusts Him, ultimately pointing to Jesus, the perfect King.
And indeed, we see many Christophanies, foreshadowings, and fulfillments in First Samuel. We see it in Hannah's prayer in First Samuel 2:1-2: "My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God."
Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving mirrors Mary’s Magnificat, both exalting God for His faithfulness and deliverance. Hannah’s joy in the birth of Samuel prefigures Mary’s joy in the coming of Jesus, the ultimate Deliverer who brings salvation to the world. Yet Hannah’s prayer goes beyond personal gratitude—it contains a prophetic declaration about God’s coming King. In First Samuel 2:10, she declares, "He will give power to His king; He will increase the strength of His anointed one." At this time, Israel had no king, making Hannah’s words remarkable. This prophecy anticipates both David and ultimately Jesus, God’s anointed King.
We see another foreshadowing in Samuel’s leadership, which points to Jesus as the final Prophet. First Samuel 3:10 says, "And the Lord came and called as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel replied, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.’” This moment is pivotal because Samuel is established as a prophet who will faithfully deliver God’s word to Israel. Hebrews 1:1-2 builds upon this theme, saying, "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son." Samuel is a type of prophet pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, who not only speaks God’s word but is the very Word of God made flesh.
The famous story of David and Goliath foreshadows Christ’s victory over evil. In First Samuel 17:45, David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." Colossians 2:15 connects this to Jesus, saying, "In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross."
David’s triumph over Goliath is not just about physical combat; it symbolizes faith in God’s power over human strength. Just as David trusted in God rather than weapons, Jesus conquered sin and death through obedience, not military might. David’s victory over Goliath foreshadows Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin, death, and the forces of evil, securing eternal salvation for all who believe in Him.
We also see it in the anointing of David. First Samuel 16:13 says, "So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took a 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." In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor."
This moment marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, which prophesies the coming of the Messiah. David’s anointing as king serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One. The Spirit coming upon David prefigures the Holy Spirit’s work in Christ’s ministry, marking Him as the One chosen to bring salvation and reign as the King of kings.
And in keeping with our theme, God looks at the heart. First Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." This truth is reinforced in John 7:24, where Jesus says, "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly."
In this passage, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for judging based on outward legalism rather than true righteousness. This moment highlights God’s divine perspective, valuing the heart over outward appearance. It points to Jesus, the perfect King who reigns with justice, righteousness, and divine insight, fulfilling the hope of a leader who embodies God’s will perfectly.
First Samuel shows humanity's rejection of God's leadership, yet it also highlights God's redemptive plan through David, a man after God's own heart. This story ultimately points to Jesus, the perfect King who reigns forever.
We also see that God sees the heart. First Samuel reveals the consequences of rejecting God's leadership but also the hope of redemption through David.
David's life ultimately foreshadows Jesus, the eternal King who reigns in righteousness and calls us to follow Him.
Trust in Jesus, live in faith, and seek to align your heart with God's will, knowing that He sees beyond appearances and desires a relationship with you.
So the question naturally arises—how do we align our heart with God's will for us personally?
Do you have a heart for something? People often ask, "How do I know God's will for my life?" First Samuel gives us clear biblical principles that we can use to discern God's will. Three key signs must be present. If one is missing, we should question whether that path is truly from God. You may have a heart for something, but how do you know if it's what you should do? How do you know if it is in line with God's heart?
So let's look at checking your heart. You may have a heart for something, but is it after God's heart?
The first key is purpose—your gifting. Is it the purpose you want for yourself, or is it God's purpose for you?
The next key is passion. You may be passionate about something, but is that God's passion for you, or is it simply what you want to do?
Finally, we look at provision. This can often be misunderstood. Many times, we try to provide for ourselves and force the other two to align. But we are talking about God's provision. If God is not providing, we need to go back and carefully evaluate.
We must measure these things carefully because Scripture warns us about the heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 – The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 28:26 – Those who trust in their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.
2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
We must align our heart with God's heart, measuring everything against His Word and seeking His will above our own.
So let's check our hearts.
This is how we will check our hearts in aligning them with God's will.
First, purpose. We must ask ourselves, Is this really my gifting? This is step one. An important note is that we must take money out of the equation. Many people try to align their gifting with financial gain. In other words, they may pursue a career they aren’t truly gifted for, simply because it pays well. This can distort judgment, as it places money before calling. But not everyone’s purpose is to make money—if financial gain is the primary motivator, it can pull us away from God's actual calling. Instead, gifting comes first.
We see this principle in First Samuel. David was uniquely prepared as a shepherd before fighting Goliath. His musical talent placed him in Saul's court. Later, he became one of the most famous songwriters in history through the Psalms. Likewise, God prepares and equips us for what He calls us to do—not necessarily what we desire to do.
But we have a problem in our culture. We love the “army of one” story—the tale of the defiant individual who overcomes impossible odds, who refuses to be told what to do, who "swims upstream" and proves everyone wrong. The story of David and Goliath is often told like this, where we are David and our personal struggles are Goliath. But that’s not the point of the story.
We are not the hero—Jesus is.
This mindset feeds into an unbiblical way of thinking. The Old Testament accounts are not meant to be self-help stories, but to point us to Christ. Instead of trying to be David, imagine how much better you could have been at something if you had nurtured your actual God-given purpose instead of trying to force your own.
We saw earlier how Saul’s defiance led to his downfall. First Samuel 15:22-23 says:
"What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king."
We must not rebel against God's gifting or be defiant toward His calling. The “swimming upstream” mentality that praises self-reliance and personal ambition can actually lead us against God's will. Many want to see themselves as David—brave, heroic, chosen—but David, though a man after God's own heart, was deeply flawed.
David’s heart was after God not because of perfection, but because of repentance.
His life teaches us humility, dependence, and repentance—not self-made success. David is not meant to be our example of greatness—he is a flawed example pointing to the true hero—Jesus Christ.
Let’s consider how most of us are not David:
• Could you kill lions and bears with your hands? Probably not.• Could you compose worship songs that have lasted thousands of years? David did.• But you do have a purpose and a gifting from God that is unique to you.
If we keep reading, we see Paul writing to the Corinthian church, who struggled with pride over their spiritual gifts. They sought greater gifts—such as prophecy and tongues—but Paul teaches them something critical in 1 Corinthians 12.
Paul uses a literary device called prosopopoeia, where inanimate objects (like a hand, foot, or ear) "speak" to emphasize their importance. He highlights that each part of the body is necessary—even the ones we might consider "less important" are actually indispensable.
We touched on this last week when discussing missions. A false and sometimes dangerous teaching in the church is that everyone is called to missions. But if we read carefully, that’s simply not true.
Paul asks rhetorically in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30:
"Are all apostles?" (meaning “sent ones”).
The answer is no—not all are apostles.
Then Paul goes on to list other gifts, including prophecy, teaching, and even tongues—making it clear that not everyone is called to the same thing.
Your gifting reveals part of God's will for you. You are uniquely equipped for what God calls you to do—not what someone else is called to do.
Another powerful biblical principle that reinforces this idea comes from Jesus' Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. This parable tells of a master who goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with talents—a form of money but also symbolic of God-given gifts and abilities.
The key detail in this parable is found in verse 15: “He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities.”
God doesn’t distribute gifts randomly—He gives according to each person's ability.
• The first two servants invested what they had been given, multiplied it, and were rewarded for their faithfulness.• The third servant, however, hid his talent, afraid to use it, and was rebuked by the master for his fear and inaction.
This parable teaches several profound truths about our purpose and calling.
First, God gives us gifts based on what we are equipped to handle.
Just like the master gave talents according to ability, God has already prepared and equipped us for what He calls us to do. We are not all given the same gifts, and that’s by design.
Second, God expects us to use and grow our gifts, not bury them.
The first two servants worked with what they had and increased it. God doesn’t expect us to compare our calling to someone else’s—only to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us.
Third, fear and inactivity are the enemies of purpose.
The third servant was afraid, so he did nothing. How often do people say, "I don’t know if I’m good enough," or "I don’t know if this is really my purpose," and so they never move forward? Fear of failure is not an excuse for inaction.
Fourth, God rewards faithfulness, not comparison.
The servant with five talents and the servant with two talents received the same reward—"Well done, good and faithful servant!" This shows us that God isn’t measuring our success by how much we do, but by how faithful we are with what He has given us.
Finally, neglecting our gifts leads to loss.
The last servant not only lost his opportunity, but the talent he had was given to the one who was faithful. When we ignore our calling, we risk missing out on what God had planned for us.
This parable connects directly to 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul emphasizes that we are all different parts of the body, each designed for a specific role. Just as one servant wasn’t expected to handle five talents when he was only given two, we shouldn’t compare our gifts, roles, or purpose to someone else.
Instead of asking, "Why don’t I have what they have?" we should ask, "Am I being faithful with what God has entrusted to me?"
God has already given you what you need to step into your purpose. If He equipped David, if He entrusted talents to His servants, and if He designed the body of Christ with many unique roles, then He has a plan for you—one that aligns with your ability, passion, and calling.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
The question isn’t if you have a purpose. The question is, are you using it?
But how do we actually KNOW if we are walking in our God-given purpose?
Here’s a simple way to check—if you’re swimming, you’re winning. If you’re applying, they’re hiring. If you’re singing, they’re signing.
What does that mean? When you are operating in your gifting, doors will open. If you’re pursuing something and constantly hitting walls, it might be time to step back and re-evaluate if it’s actually God’s purpose or just your own ambition.
• If you’re swimming, you’re winning. In other words, if God has given you the ability, He will provide opportunities for you to grow and move forward. It doesn't mean there won’t be challenges, but if you’re drowning at every step, you may be trying to force something that isn’t your calling.• If you’re applying, they’re hiring. This doesn’t mean you get the first job you apply for, but if God has called you to a field, He will open doors in His timing. If every door stays locked despite preparation and persistence, it’s time to pause and pray.• If you’re singing, they’re signing. Meaning, if your gifting is in music, writing, teaching, or another creative field, there will be affirmation. The right people will recognize your talent and confirm it.
And this brings us to an important truth: affirmation from the Church matters.
God often confirms His calling through the body of Christ. If you believe you’re called to ministry, other believers will affirm it. If you're meant to lead worship, your church will recognize that God is using you in that way. We don’t operate alone in discovering God’s will—He has given us pastors, mentors, and fellow believers to help guide us.
We must be careful not to force a calling that isn’t ours. If no one is affirming you in a particular area, it may be time to ask if it’s really what God has for you.
This ties into the danger of self-serving pursuits.
Many people assume that chasing their personal dreams will bring them happiness, but the truth is, self-serving ambition never leads to true joy.
Passion alone is not enough—if we pursue something simply because it makes us feel good or strokes our ego, we will eventually burn out or become disillusioned. Real joy comes from aligning our passion with God's purpose.
This brings us to the second point: passion.
We must ask, Is it my passion or God's?
We must be passionate about our calling, because passion fuels purpose.
If you are passionate about something, you will put in the work to cultivate that gifting. As a musician, I understand this well—if you love music, you’ll practice. Talent alone isn’t enough; it must be nurtured.
Passion will make your purpose a Priority!
God does not call you to indifference—He stirs your heart.
David couldn’t stand watching Goliath mock God and Israel. His passion for justice, worship, and leadership was evident throughout his life and the Psalms.
In the New Testament, we see Paul’s passion for preaching the Gospel. His heart burned to reach the Gentiles—we see this in Romans 15:20 and Acts 20:24.
Even Jesus Himself showed passion—clearing the temple zealously, declaring, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
So the key question is, is your passion for God’s glory or your own?
This brings us back to the issue of money.
If your passion is driven by money, that is a major red flag. Passion should be for God’s glory—not financial gain or personal achievement.
We must examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us:
"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith."
Are you pursuing this for God’s Kingdom or for personal fulfillment?
Often, we convince ourselves that we are "serving God" when in reality, we are simply feeding our own desires. That is why we must constantly check our hearts.
The final step is provision.
Is God opening doors?
God's provision fuels your purpose and passion.
If this is what God wants you to do, He will provide the resources and opportunities to accomplish it. This is our final test.
If God isn’t providing for it, it’s probably not what He wants you to do.
Despite trials, God provided for David—leading him to kingship, giving him victories, allies like Jonathan, and favor in unexpected places. Trials will exist, just as David faced persecution from Saul, but God’s provision will always be evident.
Paul affirms this in Philippians 4:19:
"And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches."
Paul experienced God's provision through hardship—yet God supplied for him through churches, friendships, open doors, and unexpected resources. In fact, he wrote Philippians while in prison, yet he still declared that God was providing for him.
If you are facing endless closed doors, pause and seek God’s wisdom.
God wants you to know His will—He does not hide it.
He equips, inspires, and provides.
If you are unsure whether something is from God, measure it by these three points:
• Purpose – Are you clearly equipped by God for this?• Passion – Is your heart deeply called to this?• Provision – Is God providing resources and opportunities?
If one or more of these is missing, pause, pray, and seek godly counsel.
Remember—trials do not mean you’re on the wrong path.
First Samuel reveals that God is faithful even when His people reject Him. He raises up leaders, restores the broken, and works through flawed individuals to fulfill His plan.
Trust Him.
If it is your gifting, then you are appointed, anointed, and empowered by God to accomplish your purpose for His glory.
©️ Copyright 2025 Gene Simco Most Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scriptures in brackets reflect the original Biblical languages.