A Person After God's Own Heart

David, the sweet “Psalm Singer” of Israel, was said to be a “Man after God’s own heart” (I Samuel 13:14)    which was evidenced by his continual “crying” after the Lord.  In anguish and distress, for protection and deliverance, for succorance and comfort, David “cried” unto the Lord.  But most of all, out of heart hunger, David “cried” unto the Lord.

This continual crying after God was what made David a man after God’s own heart.  This meant generally David could not function without the sense of God’s benediction.  Such times as he did try to function without God’s approval ended in disaster.  This “cause and effect” sequence, God’s approval for successful action, was true for David and for all others who are highly placed in God’s kingdom, simply because “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required” Luke 12:48b.  Further, this “cause and effect” rested so heavily upon David because his was to be a proto-type of a throne (or government) that was to last forever.  Therefore, God would not tolerate in David what He might in others.  But there’s a lesson here for us, though none of us are so significantly placed as David.

It’s this.  If the type of person whom God wants to raise up is “a man after His own heart” and if “the eyes of the Lord run to and from throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (II. Chronicles 16:9), then, like David, how much ought we to “cry” unto the Lord and seek to become “people after God’s own heart.”

So, what is a person after God’s own heart like?  Let me pose a contrast and perhaps make the point more clearly.  David’s predecessor, King Saul, was a man who did what was right in his own sight.  He followed the type of counsel that was designed to help achieve his own, selfish desires.  His reign ended in personal shame and disaster.  David, by contrast, sought the type of counsel that was designed to help him achieve God’s desires.  The result was that God Himself declared David to be “a man after His own heart” (I Samuel 13:14) and that David’s style of government would become the model of benevolent government for all ages to come.

Not bad for a shepherd boy become king, but it all began with an attitude of heart that kept David crying out unto the Lord.  It’s this same attitude that can make you a person after God’s own heart.