Is God the Goal? Saul’s Totem Faith vs. David’s Desire for God (1 Samuel 13)
The message previews upcoming Wednesday-night studies on David’s life, including his failures beginning in 1 Samuel 21, and asks how David can be called a man after God’s own heart. Using 1 Samuel 13, Acts 13:22, and Psalms 104 and 63, the speaker contrasts Saul and David: both sought God’s help, but Saul treated God like a “totem” for victory and prosperity, focusing on gifts rather than relationship. Saul panicked when Samuel delayed at Gilgal, disobeyed by offering the sacrifice himself, and showed a skewed view of God rooted in fear and self-interest. David, though flawed, desired God’s person and fellowship above outcomes, and his primary concern was a right relationship with God. The central question is whether God Himself is our goal even when blessings don’t come.
00:00 Why Study Saul and David
03:08 Desiring God Not Gifts
06:09 David’s Heart in Psalm 104
09:00 Saul’s Gilgal Failure
11:08 Prosperity vs Relationship
18:37 The Totem Principle
23:00 Living From Acceptance
26:11 Disobedient Religion Exposed
35:29 God Himself the Goal
38:12 Final Heart Check and Prayer
