What made King Saul a failure? Did he truly understand what God wanted from him? Do we? What made God forgive David but remove Saul as king?

1. Thank you for being
here tonight!

2. How do
we learn?
Learning is an
interesting process.

3. Some people learn from
other’s mistakes…

4. Some people learn from
their own mistakes.

5. I Cor. 10:6…Now these things
occurred as examples to keep us
from setting our hearts on evil
things as they did…. I Cor. 10:11…
These things
happened to
them as
examples and
were written
down for us as
warnings...

6. Four mistakes that cost
King Saul the throne
Mistake #1…He was taken over by pride.
I Sam. 15:22-23
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.

7. I Sam. 15:22-23… But Samuel replied: “Does
the Lord delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed
is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is
like the sin of divination, and arrogance like
the evil of idolatry. Because you have
rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected
you as king.”

8. Saul and David
The difference between
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.
What does God really want?
I Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom will
not endure; the Lord has sought out a man
after his own heart and appointed him ruler
of his people, because you have not kept
the Lord’s command.”

9. What does God really want?
1. An honest heart before Him..
• Psalm 51:1-9
Psalm 51…Three things…
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.

10. Psalm 51:1-9…
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your
unfailing love; according to your great
compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me
from my sin. For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and
done what is evil in your sight; so you are
right in your verdict and justified when you
judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from
the time my mother conceived me.

11. Psalm 51:1-9… Yet you desired faithfulness
even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in
that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop,
and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be
whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and
gladness; let the bones you have crushed
rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot
out all my iniquity.

12. What does God really want?
1. An honest heart before Him..
• Psalm 51:1-9
Psalm 51…Three things…
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.
• True confession and transparency

13. What does God really want?
1. An honest heart before Him…
Psalm 51…Three things…
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.
2. A willing heart before Him…
• Psalm 51:10-14

14. Psalm 51:10-14… Create in me a pure heart, O
God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take
your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the
joy of your salvation and grant me a willing
spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so
that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me
from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who
are God my Savior.

15. What does God really want?
1. An honest heart before Him…
Psalm 51…Three things…
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.
• Psalm 51:10-14
• Create in me a clean heart.
2. A willing heart before Him…

16. What does God really want?
1. An honest heart before Him…
Psalm 51…Three things…
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.
• Psalm 51:15-19
2. A willing heart before Him…
3. A broken heart before Him…

17. Psalm 51:15-19…
Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will
declare your praise. You do not delight in
sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take
pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O
God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
heart you, God, will not despise.
May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up
the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight
in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt
offerings offered whole; then bulls will be
offered on your altar.

18. What does God really want?
1. An honest heart before Him…
Psalm 51…Three things…
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.
• Psalm 51:15-19
• A broken heart is what God really
wants on His altar.
2. A willing heart before Him…
3. A broken heart before Him…

19. How do we avoid this mistake?
1. Remain open with God.
2. Realize that God wants honesty.
3. Let our joy come from His grace.
4. On a daily basis, give God what He truly
wants…our hearts.
Mistake #2…He didn’t understand what
God really wanted.