Title: A Man After God’s Own Heart
Passage: 1 Samuel 13:13-14
Interesting Statement: God is impressed by the one who seeks Him with everything they got…
Introduction: Paul's sermon at Antioch briefly tells the history of Israel, referring to King David in the OT saying; "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." (Acts 13:22 & 1 Samuel 13:13-14). “A man after God’s own heart” is a statement every Christian should strive for as we discipline ourselves to become more like Christ. Let’s answer the question, “What does it look like to be a man/woman after God's own heart?”
#1: A Love for the Word of God
• Explanation: Much of the book of Psalms is essentially David’s diary. The book gives great insight to internal thoughts and contemplations of following the most high God. David penned in Psalm 119 that he, “loved the law of the Lord… it’s on my mind all day long… I find great delight in the commandments (of God)… I’ll tell the world about God’s Law speaking out in public, unembarrassed cherishing it all…” (Psalm 119:97, 47-48 Paraphrased) David knew having a love for God’s Word (the Bible) did a few things…
o Protects Him from Sin – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
o Restored Him in Hardship – “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:50
o Gave Great Peace of Mind – “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165
• Illustration (The life of Christ): Jesus loved the Word of God. He referred to the OT as “The wisdom of God” quoting from the OT 78 times (26 times from the Law). Hundreds of places in the OT predicted the events of the New, testifying to the genuineness and authenticity of Scripture.
o “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
• Application: What about us? As people who long to be men and women after God’s own heart, how is our love for God’s Word? Do we "hide" it in our heart? Do we find it to be a source of comfort in times of trouble? Does it give us peace of mind? If not, we should give listen to the instructions in Psalm 1 to delight in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2) disciplining ourselves to delight in the Word (devotion) and meditate upon it daily.
#2: A Love for Prayer
• Explanation: David, being a man after God’s own heart, loved communication with God (prayer). He said, “I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2) David’s love for prayer was based upon the fact God had answered him in the past, greatly blessed his life (Psalm 116:12-13) and brought God close to him in every season.
o “The LORD is near to all who call on him…” Psalm 145:18
• Illustration (The life of Christ): Jesus was also a man of prayer as He made it a point to pray privately (Luke 5:16), in times of trial and even when faced with death. Look at some of the intimate prayers Christ prayed to the Father…
o "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)
o "Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit." (Luke 23:46)
• Application: The discipline of devoting time in God’s Word (Bible) must partner times of personal prayer. Have we found prayer as a source of peace that “surpasses all understanding"? (Philippians 4:6-7) Do we "pray without ceasing"? (1 Thessalonians 5:17) If the answer is no then the first prayer we must pray is to ask God to give us the desire for a radical prayer life so that we would be dependant of God in our relationship with Christ.
o “Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.” (Psalm 32:6-7)
#3: A Love for Praise
• Explanation: After time in the Word and conversing with the Living God, David had plenty of ammunition for praising the Lord. David said he found seven times a day to praise the Lord because all of His righteousness (Psalm 119:164) and greatness (loving kindness – Psalm 95:1-7) Even though David had a massive problem with the flesh, he was determined to sing the Lord’s praises as long as he lived.
o “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!” (Psalm 104:33)
• Illustration (The life of Christ): Jesus loved the Word, prayer and singing praises to God. In Matthew we even see Jesus and His disciples singing praise to God the week before His crucifixion. (Matthew 26:30)
• Application: In the evaluation of spending time in God’s Word and in prayer, we must also look at how we are doing praising the Lord. When we sing do we delight in singing praises to God? Do we take time to praise God after time in the Word and prayer? David gives us great encouragement to praise the Lord in Psalm 147…
o “Praise the LORD! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!” (Psalm 147:1) // Those who profess to Christians praise!
#4: A Hatred for Every False Way
• Explanation: Singing the praises of God after time in prayer and in the Word will produce a hatred of every false way. David said, “He hated every false way” (Psalm 119:104) because false ways went against God's guideline for His creation (Psalm 119:104) and what it did to daily activities and friendships. Look at his words in Psalm 101…
o “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil… I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach... I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence.” (Psalm 101:3-4, 6-7)
• Illustration (The life of Christ): Jesus hated false ways and teaching that went against God’s will and ways. He drove out moneychangers in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13) and repeatedly rebuked the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and teachers of the law (Matthew 23:13-36)
• Application: What is our attitude regarding false ways and teachings? Are we soft on what is worldly, compromising Biblical truth for temporary satisfaction or do we realize that we are involved in a "battle" over our souls and the salvation of others?
o “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
• NOTE: We can still love the sinner while hating the sin!
Conclusion: David, while struggling with sin, was one that did God’s will (Acts 13:22). Can we say that? A man (or woman) after God's own heart (after acceptance of the Gospel) strives for these attributes – like David. Discipline yourself in these things and see how you’ll become a man or woman after God’s own heart.
