Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and best-selling author Paul David Tripp

connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

First Samuel closes with Saul's tragic suicide, and Second Samuel opens with David's

lament over the deaths of Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan.

Bridging these two books is an Israelite messenger driven by selfish ambition.

In today's episode, we return to Paul's sermon series from the archives, David, A Matter of the Heart.

This week, Paul explores the hearts of these three men and shows how their stories hold up a mirror in our own

lives. To hear more sermons from Paul, visit paultrip.com slash sermons. Now here's Paul with today's

sermon. Your actions, reactions, behavior, responses, words are more shaped by what's inside of you

than what's outside of you.

We would like to think that's not true, but it is.

I think the Church of Jesus Christ has been powerfully affected by the determinism of our culture,

a culture that essentially says you are what your experience has made you.

The Bible would say something very different.

The Bible would say that what rules your heart will control your behavior.

That your behavior, your words, are organically connected to the thoughts, attitudes,

motives, and desires of your heart.

We're going to be looking this evening at the responses of three men in the exact same historical situation but with remarkably

different responses turn again to second Samuel chapter 1.

It is a sad moment and an amazing contrast.

David has just accomplished a great victory against the Amalekites,

while Saul has had a miserable defeat,

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