Act 13:22, “And when God had removed Saul, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” 1 Samuel 13:14 “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” Psalms 89:20-21, “20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.”
A man after God’s heart is a person that will do all things to please God. Such a man would have had deep understanding of who God is and what He wants from him. Though God is incomprehensible, such a man will strive everyday to know Him more and more and also to please Him in all his actions and inactions, his choices and decisions. Even when he messes up, he will run to God for mercy and forgiveness. Such a man will allow God’s will to prevail over his own will in all things and at all times.
The first thing to note is that God’s will is very important to Him and He is always looking for those who will fulfill that will. Are you ready to fulfill God’s will?
We also know that God loves us, which is why Jesus Christ died on the cross. God knows we cannot pay for our sins ourselves. He paid for our sins for us, so we do not have to. That way we can be in Heaven with Him some day. So, with this knowledge we should be able to be confident enough to interact with Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith.
After our redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ, can you say without missing words that God is happy with you? Can God boast of you in any situation or circumstance that you are a person after His heart? David was a good example of a man after God’s heart.
God deals with our inner mind, and not what we can see as individual. He knows the intents of all men. Right from the wilderness when David was watching over the sheep, He saw his dedication to the sheep, and his commitment to the assignment given to him. He was the last born of the family, he was meant to enjoy the comfort of his father. Instead he was assigned to watch over the sheep. He did not grumble; rather he took it with his whole heart to do it. God saw that heart!
How did you feel when you are treated badly, when you are being cheated, when you are put in a position where you ought not to be, when you are being relegated?
David made many mistakes and committed lots of sins in his life. David was a man who committed adultery, who had one of his closest friends murdered, and he had so much blood on his hands that God said David could not be the man to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem. Despite all his atrocities, why did God call him a man after His own heart?
Note this, it was not recorded that David committed any sin second time, despite all his errors. However, what made him a man after God’s own heart are the following:
- Repentance: Psalm 25:6, “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. David was a sinner and he did acknowledge it. He never passed the blame to anyone. Rather, he will seek the face of God for mercy and forgiveness. David wrote Psalm 51 right after he had stolen another man’s wife (Bathsheba) and then had that man killed to cover up his evil deed. This is obviously a very bad thing to do and definitely made God upset. God then sent his prophet Nathan to confront David about this sin and Psalms chapter 51was David’s response.
Psalm 51:1-19, “1To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.”
- Faithfulness: David was faithful in all things. He was faithful to King Saul even when he had been anointed to be the next king over Israel. Thus David refused to seize the throne, either by force or manipulation. He was sorely tested on one occasion when he was hiding in a cave from Saul’s men and Saul came in to relieve himself. David had the perfect chance to kill Saul. His men urged him to do so, saying that it was obviously a God-given opportunity. But David refused. He stayed faithful to King Saul and chose, instead, to wait until God made him King, rather than grab power for himself:
- David never allowed his will to prevail over God’s will. He will rather submit all to God in total obedience and not partial obedience.
- Trust: David trusted God always, especially in the time of trials and challenges of life. Psalms 31:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.”
- Heart of gratitude and thanksgiving to God: David acknowledged God for everything about his life. He never takes anything for granted. 2 Samuel 6:14, “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” 2 Samuel 6:21-22, “21And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.”
- Heart of kindness: David exhibited kindness. He was not a cruel person. He never for once had a thought to kill King Saul, even when he had the opportunity to do so. 1 Samuel 24:10, “Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. 2 Samuel 9:7, “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” He showed kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, when he had the opportunity to do so.
As we reflect on David’s example, we can strive to emulate these qualities in our own lives. We can seek a heart that longs for God, strive for repentance and forgiveness, remain faithful, obedient, and trusting in God, cultivate a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving, and demonstrate kindness to others.
Through prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we can grow closer to Him and become people who please Him, just as David did. May we continually strive to fulfill God’s will and be individuals after His own heart.
Prayer:
- Oh Lord, give me a heart that will pant after You in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, help me to please You in all things and at all times in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, give me a new heart; give me a genuine repentance heart in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, help me to be faithful in all things and at all times in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, help me to keep Your divine instructions in my heart so that I will not sin against You.
- Oh Lord, help me to put my trust in You solely in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, help to develop heart of gratitude and thanksgiving to You in every situation I find myself in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, give me a soul that is committed to kindness; remove cruelty in me in the name of Jesus Christ.