Day 1: We Are His People
of The Heart of God: Through David’s Eyes
Below is Day One of the study, but there is an introduction to check out which gives context and sets the tone. If you would like the full content all in one place, this book is now available for purchase on Amazon. Week 1 - He Longs for Us to Know Who We Are
Day 1: We Are His People
If you have ever picked up a book on microbiology, physics, or psychology, you have likely noticed that knowing everything about any one aspect of the universe is unattainable. Even the most educated people use others’ research and additional resources to get the information they need to do their jobs. When we remember the complexities of the nature of the world, it helps us remember: we humans are very limited creatures.
We are limited by what we can physically handle, what we choose to explore, and what we are able to comprehend. The heart of God is no exception. He is far more complex than we could ever imagine, and His heart is expressed to us in ways we may never quite grasp. We can take hold of some of the truths, convince ourselves we have a handle on Him, but the more we discover, the more we realize we are unable to completely understand Him. As we seek to discover the heart of God, it is without question we must realize that we will only be able to scratch the surface, the tip of the iceberg so to speak, of the vastness of our God.
In proximity to God’s greatness, we are nothing. We are simply pieces of art He’s created. Like any other piece of art meticulously created by a skilled artist, we could easily be put on a shelf in a workshop, displayed in a gallery, sold at an auction, or, if our flaws were to be noticed, tossed in the bin. Unlike most creations, we are precious to the One that created us - even with our many flaws and imperfections. Despite our failure to choose to fully respond to our Creator with complete gratitude and full submission, God desires to be connected with and relate to us. When He made us, he considered what He wanted out of the humans He created. Luckily from our perspective, He desires a more intimate relationship with us than any other thing He’s created on the earth. He has set us apart to be His people.
Because we are precious to Him, God offered us the choice to either be innocent, ignorant beings who could blissfully live uninhibited by the complex nature of knowledge, or we could choose to think for ourselves.
Because we are precious to Him, God offered us the choice to either be innocent, ignorant beings who could blissfully live uninhibited by the complex nature of knowledge, or we could choose to think for ourselves.
*Spoiler alert, in the very beginning of the story of God’s people (read: the Bible) we learn about the first humans’ choice was to know and compete with God for position as the authority.
All humans, starting with the two original creations, have chosen to ignore God’s warning of the great cost of not respecting His boundaries. Since the beginning of time, humans have consistently decided to ignore the very rules and instructions God has given us out of His love and desire to protect us from ourselves (if you are unfamiliar with this story of creation, see Genesis 1-4). Due to the consistent choices we make which reflect our lack of trust in God’s guidance, our relationship with God starts with separation. Our rejection of Him makes things a whole lot more complicated.
One of the most peculiar things about the complex story of God creating humans is the consistency of people continuing to live in competition with God. When you take a step back and look at the situation, it is baffling that humans constantly battle God instead of leaning into the unity with Him that God so desires for us to experience.
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil made us aware that we can learn and understand complex things, but this knowledge also often gives us a false sense of divinity. Plainly said: we get confused that we are not God, ourselves, because we can learn and know things. We easily become prideful, overconfident, and forget the need for our God who intentionally created us with a desire to be known and connected to Him.
Because we have this false sense of value and power, but are also separated from God due to our sin, we often are conflicted over the paradox of being broken humans and incredibly valuable to God. We teeter between feeling completely worthless and completely capable. What we need to learn instead is that we are worth being loved but also incapable of doing holy, fruitful things without God. We are reliant on God to be rescued and productive. God is who we need to even exist but even more to thrive.
This week, we will join David on the journey of discovering who he is from God’s perspective. We will be reading from the two books of Samuel to get a glimpse of the kind of people God chooses to use as examples of someone “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). In future weeks, we will also read some psalms that David wrote about his own life experience and relationship with God.
David’s life was one of great highs and lows, of strong feelings, and of deep longing. Through each glimpse we have of his life, we can see the shift in his understanding of his value and dependency on God. As we seek to understand the complexity of God’s love for David through these moments and stories, we will see aspects of God’s heart that are often overlooked or avoided due to the uncomfortable nature of walking through our mistakes, shortcomings, and failures with God.
The more I read about David and his own words, I am simultaneously humbled and encouraged by the way I can relate to his instability. Navigating our human limits, accepting our lack of understanding, and admitting our mistakes is heavy. Thankfully we have David’s vulnerable words which describe the many difficult experiences we experience in life to serve as a guide.
David’s vulnerability and transparency allows us to clearly see the restoration God is capable of in our own lives. He points us to our God who loves us enough to respect our desires to have Him in our lives. Our
God allows each of us to relate to Him on whatever level we desire, despite the pain and rejection He experiences. We are valuable enough to God for Him to risk losing us.
Since God doesn’t need us, He remains patient and waits for us to call upon Him. Then, He can respond and connect with us when we are willing. This willing, invited connection is incredibly more valuable than any forced connection could ever be. Being able to choose how much we want God in our lives may lead us to experience a power trip, but our choice is also what makes our dependence on Him increasingly intimate and special.
Consider what you are looking forward to in this study this week. Is there anything you are hoping to discover?
Review what you know about David. Fill in this little timeline with details you recall about his life. Think about what you already know about his early life, teenage years, when he was king, and what you know about the end of his life. (No need to look ahead, just a brainstorm of what you already know).
In todays’ overview of the next week, we discussed being in competition with God and how it is very human to desire to survive without God. What does this pride and desire to be enough look like in your personal life?
Think of someone you love who feels that they are unlovable. Are they unlovable? Why or why not?
Do you feel broken and unworthy of God’s love? Make a list of different contributing factors that influence your worthiness.
Reflection Activity
Write a short prayer (maybe 2-4 sentences) asking God for what you hope He will use this devotional to accomplish in your heart.
An excerpt of The Heart of God: Through David’s Eyes by Jill Ng