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A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
1 Samuel 13:14; 15:22

Mark 1:1-2

 

“…the LORD hath sought him

a man after his own heart…”

 

A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
 
The context of the description of David in 1 Samuel 13:14 was King Saul’s failure to repent of his sin against God. He blamed others for his iniquity. King Saul remained in sin all his life for his failure to repent. The LORD ended his kingdom as the LORD was the One who appointed him as the first king of Israel and called him into kingship. King Saul had no one to blame for his rejection but himself.
 
He could not blame David for usurping his throne, for David was born eight years after God’s judgment fell on King Saul. The phrase “a man after his (God’s) own heart” summarises David’s life. It was not based upon anything David did! He sinned like King Saul. But David repented the moment he was rebuked for his sin, unlike King Saul who was a man after his own heart. King Saul cared for his name at the expense of God’s Name, unlike David, who suffered and endured the life of a fugitive and refused to kill or injure King Saul no matter how King Saul came after him. To kill or hurt King Saul was to contend against God, for God anointed King Saul, and only God could take King Saul’s life. When David sinned against God, he did everything possible, including self-humiliation, to repair and restore the holy image of Christ in his life.
 
All believers are men and women after God’s heart, for the Holy Spirit working in every believer’s heart brings about genuine repentance. David’s life was far from sinless. We all know about his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. Unlike King Saul, David repented immediately when Prophet Nathan pointed out his sin. His prayer of repentance is recorded in Psalm 51 for all believers to learn true repentance.
 
THOUGHT: Help me, O God, to be a man/woman after God’s own heart all the days of my life.

PRAYER: Help me, Father, to be holy as Thou art holy, for Jesus’ sake.

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