A Man After God's Own Heart

A Man After God’s Own Heart

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 13:1-14

Scripture Text: 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.

Introduction:

Saul had been anointed of God to be king over all Israel “when (he) was little in (his) own sight”. Now he has been rejected by the Lord because of his disobedience and his failure to be a “man after God’s own heart.” The Lord found such a man in David, son of Jesse, and made him king in Saul’s place.

The Lord is still looking for men and women today who have a heart like unto His; a heart that is committed to doing the will of God; a heart that strives to please Him at all times.

At the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)

On the Mount of Transfiguration, He said, “this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” (Matt. 17:5)

We have no problem understanding why the Father would make such a statement about Jesus. In fact, there are others whom the Lord may have regarded as people after His own heart. For example:

*Joseph. *Daniel. *Shadrach, Meshech, & Abednego.

* Esther. *Dorcas. *Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The Bible records no blemishes on the lives of these people. So, we might ask the question, Why did the Lord use David as an example of “one after His own heart”??

**He is, perhaps, best remembered by some for his sins!!

**He lusted after and committed adultery with another man’s wife!

**He had Uriah, her husband, killed!

**He took a census of the people against God’s will bringing judgment against the people of God.

Three attitudes of David may suggest why God referred to him as “a man after mine own heart.” Let us take a look at them and see if we have these attitudes in our own lives thus making us people after God’s own heart.

I. David Had An Attitude Of Penitence.

A. When Nathan, the prophet, confronted David with his sins of adultery and murder, he repented.

Psalm 51:1-4, 9-10 To 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. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against 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. [9] Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

B. The Lord is still looking for people with a penitent attitude who will acknowledge their sin and confess it to Him.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1 John 1:8-2:3 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

[2:1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. [3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

C. We can become people after God’s own heart when we have an attitude of repentance toward God.

2 Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

D. God is still LOOKING for people who will genuinely repent and serve Him.

Illustration: Several years ago a huge tree in Colorado fell to the ground with a resounding crash after having stood majestically on a hill for more than 400 years. A mere sapling when Columbus landed in San Salvador, over the centuries it had been struck by lightning 14 times, braved great windstorms, and even defied an earthquake. In the end,however, it was killed by some little beetles. Boring under the bark, they chewed away its mighty fibers until one day that lordly king of the forest came thundering down. So, too, apparently insignificant sins often make substantial inroads into our spiritual lives, and if left unchecked may cause our downfall. The idle word spoken, the prayer time omitted, and the occasional fleshly pleasure indulged -- these things "spoil" the vineyard much more than we realize.