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ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

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Lesson 5 Sabbath, November 3, 2012

The Man After God’s Own Heart

“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11).

“It was when David was pure, and walking in the counsel of God, that God called him a man after his own heart.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4-a, p. 87.

Suggested Reading:   Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 703-711, 717-726

Sunday October 28

1. HEAVEN SEES THE HEART

a. Why did God replace Saul from the throne of Israel? 1 Samuel 13:13, 14.

“Saul had been after the heart of Israel, but David is a man after God’s own heart.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 2, p. 1015.

b. Why was Jesse’s firstborn turndown to be anointed as a king—and what should we learn from this? 1 Samuel 16:1, 6–13.

“As the sons of Jesse passed before Samuel, he would have selected Eliab, who was of high stature and dignified appearance, but the angel of God stood by him to guide him in the important decision and instructed him that he should not judge from appearances. Eliab did not fear the Lord. His heart was not right with God. He would make a proud, exacting ruler. None was found among the sons of Jesse but David, the youngest, whose humble occupation was that of tending sheep. He had filled the humble office of shepherd with such faithfulness and courage that God selected him to be captain of his people. In course of time, he was to change his shepherd‘s crook for the scepter.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, pp. 367, 368.

“It is the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts. How deeply should we feel this truth in the judgment of ourselves and others.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 638.


Monday October 29

2. JEALOUS FOR THE HONOR OF GOD

a. As the Israelites trembled before the boastful giant of Gath, what had been David’s main concern? 1 Samuel 17:22–26.

b. Why was David confident that he could defeat the giant—and how was this different from boastful pride and presumption? 1 Samuel 17:32–37.

“Was it a spirit of pride and self-sufficiency that made [David] dare to meet this mighty warrior who was defying the Israel of God? David had none of this spirit. Modest and unassuming, he did not make this declaration trusting in his own wisdom, skill, or power, but in the strength of God, who had delivered him out of the paw of the lion and the bear. . . .

“David’s heart was not in the least intimidated; for he knew in whom was his trust.”—The Signs of the Times, March 4, 1886.

c. Why did David refuse to use Saul’s armor? 1 Samuel 17:38, 39. Entrusted as we are with God’s last message of mercy, what does this teach us? 2 Timothy 2:25, 26.

“In the presentation of unpopular truth, which involves a heavy cross, preachers should be careful that every word is as God would have it. Their words should never cut. They should present the truth in humility, with the deepest love for souls, and an earnest desire for their salvation, and let the truth cut. They should not defy ministers of other denominations and seek to provoke a debate. They should not stand in a position like that of Goliath when he defied the armies of Israel. Israel did not defy Goliath, but Goliath made his proud boasts against God and His people. The defying, the boasting, and the railing must come from the opposers of truth, who act the Goliath; but none of this spirit should be seen in those whom God has sent forth to proclaim the last message of warning to a doomed world. . . .

“[David] laid off the king’s armor for he had not proved it. He had proved God and, in trusting in Him, had gained special victories. To put on Saul’s armor would give the impression that he was a warrior, when he was only little David who tended the sheep. He did not mean that any credit should be given to the armor of Saul, for his trust was in the Lord God of Israel.”—Gospel Workers (1892), p. 188.


Tuesday October 30

3. PRIORITIES REVEALED

a. Give two examples that demonstrate David’s nobility of character. 1 Samuel 26:2, 7–11; 1 Chronicles 11:15–19.

b. When David became king, what was his first priority? 1 Chronicles 13:1–3. Explain the reason for the tragedy that followed. 1 Chronicles 13:6–11.

“A sudden terror fell upon the rejoicing throng. David was astonished and greatly alarmed, and in his heart he questioned the justice of God. He had been seeking to honor the ark as the symbol of the divine presence. Why, then, had that fearful judgment been sent to turn the season of gladness into an occasion of grief and mourning? Feeling that it would be unsafe to have the ark near him, David determined to let it remain where it was. A place was found for it nearby, at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

“The fate of Uzzah was a divine judgment upon the violation of a most explicit command. Through Moses the Lord had given special instruction concerning the transportation of the ark. None but the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were to touch it, or even to look upon it uncovered. . . .

“David and his people had assembled to perform a sacred work, and they had engaged in it with glad and willing hearts; but the Lord could not accept the service, because it was not performed in accordance with His directions. The Philistines, who had not a knowledge of God’s law, had placed the ark upon a cart when they returned it to Israel, and the Lord accepted the effort which they made. But the Israelites had in their hands a plain statement of the will of God in all these matters, and their neglect of these instructions was dishonoring to God. Upon Uzzah rested the greater guilt of presumption. Transgression of God’s law had lessened his sense of its sacredness, and with unconfessed sins upon him he had, in face of the divine prohibition, presumed to touch the symbol of God’s presence. God can accept no partial obedience, no lax way of treating His commandments. By the judgment upon Uzzah He designed to impress upon all Israel the importance of giving strict heed to His requirements. Thus the death of that one man, by leading the people to repentance, might prevent the necessity of inflicting judgments upon thousands.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 705, 706.


Wednesday October 31

4. THOROUGH REFORMATION

a. Describe the heart-searching experience that David underwent in his earnest desire to understand more of God’s ways. 1 Chronicles 13:12–14.

“Upon David the divine rebuke accomplished its work. He was led to realize as he had never realized before the sacredness of the law of God and the necessity of strict obedience. . . .

“At the end of three months he resolved to make another attempt to remove the ark, and he now gave earnest heed to carry out in every particular the directions of the Lord.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 706.

b. After deep study and prayer, what did David learn how to transport the ark? Numbers 4:15; 7:9. What should we learn from his reverent processional and the way his faith was rewarded? 1 Chronicles 15:25, 26.

“The king had laid aside his royal robes and had attired himself in a plain linen ephod, such as was worn by the priests. He did not by this act signify that he assumed priestly functions, for the ephod was sometimes worn by others besides the priests. But in this holy service he would take his place as, before God, on an equality with his subjects. Upon that day Jehovah was to be adored. He was to be the sole object of reverence. . . .

“David’s dancing in reverent joy before God has been cited by pleasure lovers in justification of the fashionable modern dance, but there is no ground for such an argument. . . . The music and dancing in joyful praise to God at the removal of the ark had not the faintest resemblance to the dissipation of modern dancing. The one tended to the remembrance of God and exalted His holy name. The other is a device of Satan to cause men to forget God and to dishonor Him.”—Ibid., pp. 706, 707.

“The true Christian will not desire to enter any place of amusement or engage in any diversion in which he cannot ask the blessing of God. He will not be found at the theater, the billiard hall, or the bowling saloon. . . . To those who plead for these diversions, we answer, We cannot indulge in them in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The blessing of Christ would not be invoked upon the hour spent at the theater or in the dance.”—Messages to Young People, p. 398.


Thursday November 1

5. CULTIVATING PURITY OF HEART

a. In view of David’s sin (2 Samuel 11:1–27), what must we understand when considering him as a man after God’s own heart? 1 Kings 15:5.

“When David departed from God and stained his virtuous character by his crimes, he was no longer a man after God’s own heart. . . . When the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, their past righteousness will not save them from the wrath of a just and holy God.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4-a, p. 87.

b. Through God’s great mercy, what thoughts did help to restore David to Heaven’s grace and purity? Psalms 51:1–4, 10, 17; 86:11; 119:113.

“The prayer of David after his fall illustrates the nature of true sorrow for sin. His repentance was sincere and deep. There was no effort to palliate his guilt; no desire to escape the judgment threatened, inspired his prayer. David saw the enormity of his transgression; he saw the defilement of his soul; he loathed his sin. It was not for pardon only that he prayed but for purity of heart. He longed for the joy of holiness—to be restored to harmony and communion with God.”—Steps to Christ, pp. 24, 25.

“David often triumphed in God, and yet he dwelt much upon his own unworthiness and sinfulness. His conscience was not asleep or dead. ‘My sin,’ he cries, ‘is ever before me’ (Psalm 51:3). He did not flatter himself that sin was a matter with which he had nothing to do and that should not concern him. As he saw the depths of deceit in his heart, he was deeply disgusted with himself and prayed that God would keep him back by his power from the presumptuous sins, and cleanse him from secret faults.”—The Youth’s Instructor, July 5, 1894.


Friday November 2

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why did God choose David rather than Eliab to lead His people?

2. What revealed David’s priorities in the contest against Goliath?

3. Why was Uzzah slain?

4. What should we realize about David’s “dancing” before the Lord?

5. What made David’s attitude toward worship so exemplary?

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