To Be People After God’s Own Heart

by Chris Simmons

After King Saul disobeyed God in I Samuel 13 by going beyond his authority and assuming priestly duties himself, God, through Samuel, spoke to him and told him that he had been rejected as being King and that his rule would not last. In I Samuel 13:14, God referred to the one whom He would choose in his stead by saying; “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” God sought a man “after His own heart.” That man proved to be David, and in Acts 13:22, the scriptures confirm this about King David. “And after He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’”

What more lofty praise could one ever receive in his lifetime than to be called “a man after God’s heart”? We then need to learn what it was about David that earned him such a divine commendation and implement such qualities in our lives. Certainly the scriptures indicate a number of qualities which were a part of David’s spiritual success including the following:

First, David sought to do ALL of GOD’S WILL. Above all else, Acts 13:22 clearly teaches us that the most defining characteristic of “a man after MY heart” is the desire and commitment to do ALL of GOD’S WILL. There are two vitally important aspects to this quality. First of all, it is about the fundamental choice between OUR WILL and GOD’S WILL. To be “self-willed” is in complete contrast and distinction to being “God-willed.” Christ’s invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 was not to come to Him with a heart only attuned to our own will but rather to “Take My yoke upon you…” (verse 29). To take the yoke of Christ upon ourselves is to submit the direction and control of our lives unto Him. Christ must have the “reigns” of our hearts and lives and with a gentle and humble heart, we must willingly and without contention submit to His direction. Paul applied this to himself when he said; “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Once we decide to submit to God’s will, we must do so COMPLETELY. Not just part of God’s will but ALL of God’s will. David understood that truth was defined by all of what God commanded as he stated in Psalms 119:151, 160, “Thou art near, O LORD, And all Thy commandments are truth … The sum of Thy word is truth, And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.” There may be portions of God’s word which we find very easy to submit to and some we find more challenging, but the Godly individuals submit to them ALL, regardless of whether it is easy for them or not. Man might consider 99% close enough, but God is concerned about even one part of our lives in which we yet lack. Consider the rich ruler referred to in Luke 18:18-23 who had obeyed “…all these things” but yet was told by Christ, “…one thing you still lack…” This wealthy ruler had yet to completely submit his will to God’s and do ALL of His will. As Joshua was being prepared to lead the nation of Israel into the promised land, he was instructed in Joshua 1:7, “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”

Second, David dealt with his sin as God would have us to. Yes, David sought to do ALL of God’s will, but as we all know, David committed blatant sins against God and his fellow man. Even those who strive to serve God fall short of His standard (cf. Romans 3:23). It is how we chose to deal with sin that will decide if we are people after God’s own heart. David could have reacted in several ways to his sin. He could have denied it, he could’ve thrown up his hands and given up, or he could have tried to rationalize it. Rather, he chose the path that we need to follow. He confessed his sin (II Samuel 12:13) that he understood was against God (Psalms 51:4), repented and turned again to God as he sought the forgiveness of His sin (Psalms 51:7-12). He did not allow his sin to cause him to quit serving God, though David stated that my “sin is ever before me” (Psalms 51:4). More than just an outward show of regret, David displayed a “broken and contrite heart” (Psalms 51:17). Confession (I John 1:8-9), repentance (Acts 3:19; 26:20) and prayer (Acts 8:22; James 5:16) are part of how every child of God is to deal with sin that is committed.

Finally, David was a man after God’s own heart because of his utter trust, faith and confidence in his Creator. David dealt with some most difficult times and yet through it all, his faith and trust in God stood firm. David understood the need to “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD” (Psalms 4:5). He entrusted himself to God as he spoke in Psalms 91:1-6, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” To be people after God’s own heart, we must live a life of righteousness and entrust ourselves to Him who has promised us eternal life through whatever difficulties this life may hold. Paul said, “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (II Timothy 1:12).

David was a man after God’s own heart because he strove to do ALL that God had commanded. When he failed and sinned, he humbly and penitently dealt with that sin and continued to maintain his trust and faith in God in the face of challenging circumstances. This we must do as well if we shall also be called people after God’s own heart.