After God's Heart
Denver Thomas
Paul, in speaking concerning King David, said, in Acts 13:33, “And when he had removed him [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.”
What was it about David that would cause God to speak of him in such a way? There are a number of significant things we can know about David. First of all, he put his total trust in God as we read in 1 Samuel 17:37, “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” Secondly, he did not go against God, as we read in 1 Samuel 24:10, “Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day 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.” Thirdly, he sought the Lord for guidance, as we read in 1 Samuel 30:8, “And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
Like so many, David was guilty of sin, as we read in 2 Samuel 11:4, “And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” Again, in 2 Samuel 11:14-17, “And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.”
However, it seems what set David apart from many was his attitude. After God sent Nathan to confront David for his acts, we read in 2 Samuel 12:13, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” Psalm 51 records for us the prayer David made to God following his sins. Verse 3 says, “… my sin is ever before me.”
From the life of David, we can learn some useful guidelines for our own lives. We need to put God first in our own lives. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We need to solicit His guidance in what we do. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 3:17 tells us, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
We need to do what He has commanded. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus also said in John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
Should we not all seek to be known as someone after God’s own heart? For what more could we possibly ask or even hope? Would that not assure us of a place with Him in His kingdom in the after-while? -PO Box 821, Milton, WV 25541.