Create In Me a Pure Heart

Matthew 5:7

                “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

How do we obtain a pure heart?  All of us have been born into sin and our nature is one of sin.  We can slip and fall due to this but there is hope.  Do you remember a guy by the name of David who was King of Israel.  When Samuel was telling Saul that he would no longer be King of Israel he said in I Samuel 13:3 “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said, “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.”  Samuel thought he could do it “his way” and God did not honor that.  But, as we read on we find out why God chose David to be the leader of Israel.  I Samuel 13:4 “But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the LORD’S command.” 

Saul found himself in a bind.  He was in a battle that he himself could not fight.  Samuel had instructed him to wait but Saul took it upon himself to offer up burnt offerings.  He said in I Samuel 13:12b “I have not sought the LORD’S favor, ‘So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.’ 

David gives us a clue as to how to have a pure heart in Psalm 24:4

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.”

He goes on to say, Psalm 24:5

“He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God His Savior.” 

Now Saul tried to fix the problem by offering up a burnt offering but the problem is, that was not his place to do and to whom was he offering these burnt offerings?  In the previous chapter, I Samuel 12:21 he tells the people of Israel

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away after useless idols.  They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”

If he had only listened to his own advice, he could have remained king but instead he offered up burnt offerings that were not his to offer.  In Psalm 40 we find out how Saul should have responded and how we too should respond when we find ourselves in a place where we are required to wait upon the Lord just as Saul did.  Psalm 40:1

“I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. (2) He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  In verse 6 he goes on to say, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.  (7) The I sad, “here I am , I have come—it is written about me in the scroll (8) I desire to do your will, my God, your law is within my heart.” 

Saul tried to fix things by doing something but that is not what the LORD wanted.  The LORD wanted him to wait patiently for Samuel but he took matters into his own hands because he did not trust the LORD and thus lost the throne.  Now let’s contrast that with what David did, he waited patiently on the LORD and he cried out to Him giving us an indication that he knew who to trust.  Psalm 40:4 we find he reward,

“Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” 

Psalm 51:10-12 we find out how David responded to his sin, when he had not found favor with God, he prayed,

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit from me.  (11) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (12) Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” 

If we are to find favor with God and have a pure heart, it comes from recognizing who we are and who HE is which will cause us to repent and ask God to grant us a pure heart just as David did.  Take note that David was not necessarily willing to do things the way God wanted them done.  He says “grant me a willing spirit”.  When you find yourself in a predicament that you do not necessarily like being in, remember to pray as David did to grant you a willing spirit.  If we truly trust the LORD we will recognize that He is in control and that we need to pray because He hears our prayers and He will answer. 

Do you desire to see God?  Seek Him today by repenting to the LORD and giving Him all of your doubts and concerns.  Ask that He give you a willing spirit to do HIS will in all things.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila