Whatever we do, God is always interested in our heart more than anything else.
David, who committed both murder and adultery, was not rejected as king of Israel, while Saul, who did not commit such grave sins, was rejected. The difference lies in their hearts. Saul made excuses for his sins, revealing a heart that wasn’t right before God. In contrast, David was truly sorry for his sins, acknowledging his wrongs without excuses, and seeking genuine restoration with God.
Getting our heart right before God is crucial because everything flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). If our heart isn’t right, our sacrifices, restitutions, or compensations will mean nothing to God as we won’t be able to change for the better in a way that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
True repentance, rooted in a sincere and contrite heart, is what God desires from us, as it opens the door to His grace and transformative power.