A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
1 Samuel 13:13-14

INTRODUCTION
A. In Paul’s sermon at Antioch, in which he briefly recounts the history of Israel, he refers to the statement made by God concerning David:
“I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22; cf. 1 Sam 13:13-14)
B. This beautiful compliment, “a man after my heart,” is one that should characterize every person who wears the name of Christ
1. For David was not only the ancestor of Christ according to the flesh…
2. But he possessed many of the attitudes that:
a. Were later perfected by Christ
b. Should characterize all those who are followers of Christ
C. In this study we shall…
1. Consider some of these attitudes that David had
2. See the similarities between his attitudes and those of Christ
3. And encourage all who are Christians to have the same so that we too might be people “after God’s heart”
4. We begin, then, by noticing that…
DISCUSSION
A. DAVID LOVED THE WORD OF GOD
1. Psalm 119:97
a. In this psalm we find one who has a great love for God’s Word – Psalm 119:47-48
b. This love for God’s Word is due to the fact that…
1) It protects him from sin – Psalm 119:11
2) It revives him in affliction – Psalm 119:50
3) It gives him great peace of mind – Psalm 119:165
2. Jesus Loved The Word Of God…
a. As is evident from His frequent quotation of it
b. Especially at the time of His temptation – Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
3. How Is Our Love For The Word Of God?
a. Do we “store it up” [hide – KJV] in our heart? (Psa. 119:11)
b. Do we find it to be a source of comfort in times of affliction? (Psa. 119:50)
c. Does it give us peace of mind? (Psa. 119:165)
d. If not, we should give heed to the instructions of David in Psalm 1:1-3
1) Learn to delight in the Word
2) Learn to meditate upon it daily
3) Then will we be truly “blessed”
4. Notice also that…
B. DAVID LOVED TO PRAY
1. Psalm 116:1-2
a. His love for prayer was based upon the fact God had answered him before –
Psalm 116:1-2
b. It was based upon the fact that God had greatly blessed him – Psalm 116:12-13
c. It was based upon the fact that prayer brought God close to him – Psalm 145:18
2. Jesus Was Also A Man Of Prayer…
a. He made it a point to often slip away to pray privately – Luke 5:16
b. In times of greatest trial, Jesus resorted to prayer…
1) At Gethsemane – Matthew 26:36-44
2) On the cross:
a) “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34)
b) “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46)
c) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk. 23:46)
3. How Is Our Love For Prayer?
a. Have we found it to be a source of peace “which surpasses all understanding”? – Philippians 4:6-7
b. Do we “pray without ceasing”? (1 The. 5:17)
c. If not, let David instruct us to depend upon prayer for our very preservation –
Psalm 32:6-7
4. In addition to the Word of God and prayer…
C. DAVID LOVED TO PRAISE GOD
1. Psalm 119:164
a. He praised God because of His righteous judgments
b. He praised God because of His greatness and loving kindness – Psalm 95:1-7
c. And he was determined to sing praises as long as he lived – Psalm 104:33
2. Jesus Also Loved To Praise God…
a. As He did on one occasion publicly in prayer – Matthew 11:25-26
b. As He did with His disciples in song – Matthew 26:30
3. Do We Love To Praise God?
a. Do we delight in singing praises to God in song?
b. Do we take time to praise God in our prayers?
c. Once again, David has words to encourage us in this activity – Psalm 147:1
d. Thus it is becoming for those who profess to be children of God to praise their Heavenly Father!
4. David was also a man after God’s heart because…
D. DAVID LOVED UNITY AMONG BRETHREN
1. Psalm 133:1
a. David knew the value of good friendship and unity, as exemplified in the relationship he had with Jonathan – 1 Samuel 18:1
b. He also knew the terrible pain of division within a family (cf. his sons, Amnon and Absalom – 2 Sam 13)
2. Jesus Loved Unity Also…
a. He prayed diligently that His disciples might be one – John 17:20-23
b. He died on the cross that there might be unity – Ephesians 2:13-16
3. Do We Love Unity Enough To Pay The Price?
a. By diligently displaying the proper attitudes necessary to preserve the unity Christ has accomplished through His death? – Ephesians 4:1-3
b. By marking those who needlessly cause division? – Romans 16:17
4. Finally, we note that…
E. DAVID HATED EVERY FALSE WAY
1. Psalm 119:104
a. His hatred was based upon his understanding of God’s precepts – Psalm 119:104
b. His hatred affected his selection of activities and friends – Psalm 101:3-4, 6-7
2. Jesus Also Hated Error And False Ways…
a. As manifested in His driving the moneychangers out of the temple – Matthew 21:12-13
b. As manifested in His denunciation of the hypocritical Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers – Matthew 23:13-36
3. What Is Our Attitude Toward False Ways?
a. Are we soft or compromising?
b. Or do we realize that we are involved in a “battle” over the souls of men, and do not think lightly of that which is false – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
c. While we are to love the sinner, we must ever hate the sin!
CONCLUSION
A. In closing, we note that it was said concerning David that he was one “…who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22)
1. Because he was “a man after God’s own heart” and had all these attributes we have considered in this lesson…
2. God was confident that David would do all that God asked of him
B. Thus it requires all of the attributes to motivate one to be faithful to all that God may ask…
1. We have seen where Jesus possessed them, and He was certainly motivated to do the Father’s will – John 4:34; Matthew 26:42
2. How about us? Are we motivated to do all of God’s will? – Matthew 7:21