Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines."—1 Samuel 7:3
Over the past few days the Lord has placed Michael W. Smith’s song, The Heart of Worship, on my heart. I went to sleep last night singing it and woke up with it on my heart again this morning. First Samuel 7:3 brought it to mind again. Here are some of the beautiful lyrics.
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you,
It's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you,
It's all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
Our God wants our hearts. Verse 2 of first Samuel 7 tells us that Israel lamented after the Lord for 20 years. The ark had been put away and perhaps it seemed to the people that the Lord had abandoned them. Then Samuel speaks in verse 3 reminding them that godly sorrow that leads to repentance looks like something. Israel needed to act. They needed to put the “foreign” gods or idols that were among them away and prepare their hearts to wholly serve the Lord alone. The same is true for us today. Whatever holds first place in our hearts controls us. God alone is worthy of our obedience, our service, our loyalty and our worship. We must allow nothing to rival him. Unite our hearts..unite my heart, Father, to fear Your name. There will be no victory in battle until there is victory in our hearts.
And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.—2 Chronicles 15:15
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ—Philippians 3:7-8
