David - A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, 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 fulfil all my will. (KJV)

I love studying about the men of the Bible.

In so many instances they demonstrate qualities of godliness and spirituality that are foreign to us today.

David is one of those men.

I consider him a true example of a man of God.

But more than that, he is an example of A MAN!

During David’s reign as King, Israel grew to have the largest boundaries of its history.

David was a soldier to the extent that, when He had it in his heart to build God a temple, the Lord said that He did not want David to build it because he was a man of war.

And yet, David had a very tender side to him.

The Bible says, specifically relating to God’s choice for King in Israel, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart!”

God looked at the heart of David and said “He is a man after my own heart.

The subject of the heart of David is an extensive one.

Seems like the word most often related to David’s heart is PERFECT.

Meaning “complete.”
The commentaries all seem to agree that, in the case of King David it meant that he completely fulfilled the commandments of God.

We know that David was not a perfect man and he did sin against the Lord.

But even in that he displayed a right kind of heart in that, when confronted with his sin he had
• A Broken,
• Humble and
• Contrite heart.

Let me give you six things I learned studying David’s heart:

David had
I. A LION’S HEART
I am speaking about his ability in war and most notably when in battle with Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:33-37 (KJV)
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
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.

1 Samuel 17:44-51 (KJV)
And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

This is a kid with more than a little intestinal fortitude here!

Some folks think Christians are supposed mealy mouthed, weak kneed, sissy type men.

That isn’t the picture I see in the Bible at all.

Bible says
Stand fast, quit ye like men.
Bible says
Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Bible says
Earnestly contend for the faith.

I see the men of God in the Bible as all being VERY MANLY MEN!

Abraham, taking after those kings who had attacked Sodom and Gomorra and had taken Lot captive.
Moses, standing before the Red Sea with his hands outstretched crying “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”
Joshua, leading Israel into battle after battle in order to take the promised land.
Caleb, who at 80 years old was still strong enough to take a mountain from the enemies of God.

Or what about
Elijah Standing before the nation of Israel and challenging them, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If God be God then follow him, but if Baal, then follow him.”

Or Jesus Christ Himself, who made that scourge, went into the Temple, overthrew the moneychanger’s tables and drove them out.

I figure Jesus must have been a pretty manly type man or someone would have tried to stop him!

Bible men were REAL MEN.

David had a LION’S HEART.

Secondly, David had
II. A LOVING HEART
2 Samuel 1:25-26 (KJV)
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

There is nothing unmanly about a man having some VERY good FRIENDS.

And being able to love another person and express that love.

David, this man after God’s own heart,
• Knew how to weep
• Knew how to love
• Knew how to show that love

As courageous as David was in Battle, he could sit down during the quiet times in life and WRITE POETRY AND PSALMS about the most tender of emotions!

Why is it we men think we can’t let out emotions show?

---Some fella’s act like they never want the men they work around to know they love their wives.

MAN - I WANT EVERYONE AROUND ME TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE ANITA!

She is the best thing that happened to me since salvation!

I am still amazed that she consented to marry a sorry man like me over 37 years ago!

I think she knew I couldn’t make it too well without a wife and figured no one else would be willing to take on the job - so she married me out of pity for my case!

I do not think I will EVER be able to express my love for her loud enough or to enough people!

---Why is it some men can’t hug their kids and let them know they love them?

I used to play a game with my boys.

• I’d say, “Caleb, I love you as big as this plate.”
• He’d reply, “Well, I love you as big as the table.”
• I’d say, “I love you as big as this room.”
• He’d say “I love you as big as this house.”

And we kept growing it bigger and bigger until we’d both say, “I love you as big as the whole universe!”

I still hug my boys with big bear hugs – I learned it from my dad.
My extended has a lot of problems.
BUT AS LONG AS I LIVE I AM GOING TO REMEMBER HEARING MY DAD SAY
“I love you Son”, and giving me one of those great big bear hugs!

I had a young man in our church once - fresh out of high school and into the Coast Guard.

My wife and I got to where we were pretty close to him, and his parents began to come down and visit us in Astoria quit a bit.

One day Kelly’s dad took me aside and told me thank you. He said, “You know, I have never really had the courage to hug my boy and tell him I love him until I came here and watched you with you boys! Thank you for showing me how to tell my son I love him!”

Why is it many Christian men can’t do that?

David had a loving heart.

Third, David had
III. A LOYAL HEART
1 Samuel 24:1-6 (KJV)
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

On two separate occasions David had the opportunity to kill King Saul and take over the kingdom for himself.

This time, David and his men were hiding in a cave.

Saul and his men were out hunting for David to catch and kill him.

Saul, not knowing where David was, went into a cave to sleep for the night.
IT WAS THE SAME CAVE DAVID AND HIS MEN WERE HIDING IN!

David’s men urged him to kill Saul.

This was the perfect opportunity.

What irony!
Saul, hunting David, fell asleep in the same cave David was hiding in!

This could easily be construed as God delivering Saul into David’s hands.

All David had to do is kill Saul and everything would be better for him.
• He would not be fleeing for his life any more.
• He would not have to hide out in caves and in the woods.
• He would become the king of Israel with all the power and prestige that entailed.

But David
• Refused to touch the Lord’s anointed.
• Refused to take the kingdom by force.
• Refused to rebel against God’s leader

EVEN IF THAT LEADER WAS WRONG!

What a loyal heart David had!

• How our world needs men like that today!
• How our churches need men like that today!

I have met a good number of Christians who think they are loyal followers of the preacher God places over them, only to find out they were only following because they liked the decisions the preacher was making.

AS SOON AS HE MADE A DECISION THEY DIDN’T LIKE THEY CHEWED HIM UP AND SPIT HIM OUT!

Listen, if you won’t be loyal to your pastor when you disagree with him, YOU AREN’T LOYAL TO HIM AT ALL!

And frankly, if you aren’t loyal to your pastor, whom God has placed over you -
NEITHER ARE YOU LOYAL TO THE LORD!

Fourth David had
IV. A LEADER’S HEART
1 Samuel 22:1-2 (KJV)
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

Everyone that was in
• Distress
• Debt and
• Discontented

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BAPTIST CHURCH TO ME!

I appreciate David’s heart here.

He didn’t only accept the
• wealthy,
• healthy, and otherwise
• blessed
folks in his fold.

David took those who were hurting and led them.

If you read his story you learn that he took this sorry bunch and turned them into leaders in their own right.

That is what leadership does.

It takes people where they are, AND MAKES THEM BETTER!

Too many folks are looking for church members who can help the church.
WHAT HAPPENED TO LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHOM THE CHURCH CAN HELP?

David wasn’t looking for what he could get out of leadership.
HE WAS LOOKING FOR WHAT HE COULD GIVE AS A LEADER.

He wasn’t attempting to promote himself through his position.
He was working to provide for others through his position!

A lion’s heart
A loving heart
A loyal heart
A leader’s heart and

Fifth David had
V. A LAMB’S HEART
Psalms 23:1-6 (KJV)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

David was in love with God!

• He depended upon God
• He leaned upon God, and he
• Led others to God.

David’s heart led him TO PRAY
1 Chronicles 17:25 (KJV)
For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

David’s heart led him TO PRAISE GOD
Psalms 9:1 (KJV)
I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

David’s heart led him TO PAY God regular offerings and sacrifices.
1 Chronicles 29:17 (KJV)
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

We need some men today who aren’t afraid to reach out their hand to the Lord, let God take hold of them and lead them.

A lion’s heart
A loving heart
A Loyal heart
A leader’s heart
A lamb’s heart and

Sixth, David had
VI. A LIMBER HEART
I mean it was
• tender,
• pliable, and
• easily moved
to
• confession,
• contrition and
• conviction!

We know of at least two cases in Scripture where David messed up big time.

• Once, in the case of his affair with Bathsheba
• The other when he numbered his soldiers against the counsel of God.

In both cases David, when he realized his sin, quickly confessed it and made it right!

2 Samuel 24:10
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. (KJV)

2 Sam 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. (KJV)

In neither case did David get mad at being confronted with his sin.

Neither time did he lash out at the one who had shed light on the sins he had committed.

Some of the most touching words in the Bible are part of a Psalm David wrote to express his confession of the sin with Bathsheba

Ps 51:4-13
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.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. (KJV)

Know what I found out?

Any one of us can be a man after God’s own heart, if we’ll have
A lion’s heart –
and take a stand for Christ
A loving heart –
and let those around us know we love them
A loyal heart –
and take care of those God puts over us
A leader’s heart –
and help lead others into a better life than they have
A lamb’s heart –
and be satisfied following the Lord as our Shepherd
A limber heart –
and be quickly moved to confess our sins when we commit them.