Past Commentary by a Common Terry
The God goal
June 7, 2026
Last week I wrote about King Saul and his eventual demise as the first king of Israel. He started well enough, but made choices, several choices, that eventually led not only to the end of God’s blessing on Saul’s throne, but the loss of the line of the king for his family.
Therefore, God had Samuel anoint David, an unknown who lived in Bethlehem. Not only was he insignificant in the nation, tribe, and clan, he wasn’t even important in his own family. He was the youngest of eight. When Samuel came to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king, Jesse didn’t even present the youngest to be considered. But all eight of the older brothers were rejected by God. The one that would be anointed was the kid, the one assigned to keep an eye on the sheep in the field.
God looked at the heart, always the heart. When Samuel thought the obvious choice was Eliab, the oldest, God established the principle that would ultimately define David’s reign. “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
The heart of David is thematic all through the Davidic narrative in the Old Testament. Because his heart was so fiercely inclined toward God, he would be the man that would be, “...a man after God’s own heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22)
Saul was not committed to doing all the will of God. He did some of the will of God. As king, the burden of obedience and demonstration of submission to God was significant. As the king goes, so goes the nation. Saul convinced himself he was solid. After directly disobeying God’s instructions about the destruction of the Amalekites, Saul still told Samuel that he did what God had told him to do.
It wasn’t until the consequences were made clear that the compromise became clear. God did not want more sacrifices or burnt offerings. He wanted obedience. (I Samuel 15:22)
God cannot be bought. He will not be deceived or duped. He sees the heart. The person who sings praises to God on Sunday and then compromises the message of those wonderful songs on Monday is disappointing to the Father. He is not looking for symbolism or ritual as much as He is passionate about actions that reflect a commitment and obedience to Him.
Satan, our enemy, is the great deceiver. He is our adversary. He doesn’t always try to destroy our faith through crisis or pain. Often, maybe most of the time, he is planting the seed of mediocrity and compromise with the world. When he convinced Eve, and then Adam, to eat the fruit, he knew they would be attracted to the lies.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5)
Satan actually turned the consequence into something they would desire. What he said was true. They would know good and evil. And it was a choice that led to the loss of the garden, and the burden of sin that led to death.
Thousands of years later, the aging apostle John warned Christians about this. In his first letter, he wrote, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (I John 2:16)
We must be aware of the world. And we must be diligent in our response to the fruit that is dangled before us. It is appealing and tempting. That is why people are so attracted sin. It calls us to prioritize ourself first, not God first. The goal is not to please ourselves, but to please God. It is the God goal.
So what is your goal? Is it to get by, keeping one foot in the spiritual while the other is firmly planted in the world? That won’t work. God doesn’t share the throne. It is a seat for One.
Therefore, God had Samuel anoint David, an unknown who lived in Bethlehem. Not only was he insignificant in the nation, tribe, and clan, he wasn’t even important in his own family. He was the youngest of eight. When Samuel came to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king, Jesse didn’t even present the youngest to be considered. But all eight of the older brothers were rejected by God. The one that would be anointed was the kid, the one assigned to keep an eye on the sheep in the field.
God looked at the heart, always the heart. When Samuel thought the obvious choice was Eliab, the oldest, God established the principle that would ultimately define David’s reign. “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
The heart of David is thematic all through the Davidic narrative in the Old Testament. Because his heart was so fiercely inclined toward God, he would be the man that would be, “...a man after God’s own heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22)
Saul was not committed to doing all the will of God. He did some of the will of God. As king, the burden of obedience and demonstration of submission to God was significant. As the king goes, so goes the nation. Saul convinced himself he was solid. After directly disobeying God’s instructions about the destruction of the Amalekites, Saul still told Samuel that he did what God had told him to do.
It wasn’t until the consequences were made clear that the compromise became clear. God did not want more sacrifices or burnt offerings. He wanted obedience. (I Samuel 15:22)
God cannot be bought. He will not be deceived or duped. He sees the heart. The person who sings praises to God on Sunday and then compromises the message of those wonderful songs on Monday is disappointing to the Father. He is not looking for symbolism or ritual as much as He is passionate about actions that reflect a commitment and obedience to Him.
Satan, our enemy, is the great deceiver. He is our adversary. He doesn’t always try to destroy our faith through crisis or pain. Often, maybe most of the time, he is planting the seed of mediocrity and compromise with the world. When he convinced Eve, and then Adam, to eat the fruit, he knew they would be attracted to the lies.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5)
Satan actually turned the consequence into something they would desire. What he said was true. They would know good and evil. And it was a choice that led to the loss of the garden, and the burden of sin that led to death.
Thousands of years later, the aging apostle John warned Christians about this. In his first letter, he wrote, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (I John 2:16)
We must be aware of the world. And we must be diligent in our response to the fruit that is dangled before us. It is appealing and tempting. That is why people are so attracted sin. It calls us to prioritize ourself first, not God first. The goal is not to please ourselves, but to please God. It is the God goal.
So what is your goal? Is it to get by, keeping one foot in the spiritual while the other is firmly planted in the world? That won’t work. God doesn’t share the throne. It is a seat for One.