Pastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, May 11, 2003
“David – A Man After God’s Own Heart”
Part 1
(Be reading & studying 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 1Kings 1-2)
Throughout the Bible we see many individual characters, some good and some bad. I’ve always loved biographies – we’re going to begin a new series on one of the most interesting person in the Bible, a look at the life of David.
Background Information concerning David:
· More space in the Bible is devoted to David than any other person (even Jesus).
· His life is covered in 4 books, 66 OT chapters & 59 NT references to His life.
· His writings occupy at least 73 chapters of the Bible – possibly writing 2/3 of the book of Psalms.
· He is called the “Greatest sinner and the greatest saint in the OT”.
· Thompson Chain reference Bible, “No Bible character more fully illustrates the moral range of human nature”.
· Hastings says, “The David of Israel is not simply the greatest of her kings; he is the man great in everything”.
· P. Morgan said, “David is the most unforgettable character I will ever meet”.
David was a shepherd, hunter, warrior, general, king, poet, actor, champion, outlaw, ladies man, musician, prophet, worship leader, adulterer, murderer, brother, husband, son, parent, leader, hero, builder, administrator, ancestor of Jesus Christ, a man after God’s own heart!
Let’s begin with a little background concerning Saul. Israel was at a low point spiritually; the nation and her leaders rejected God Himself as their leader and King. Look at these few verses…
1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
1 Samuel 8:19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us.
1 Samuel 9:2 He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites--a head taller than any of the others.
1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?
· Israel desired a man to lead them like their pagan neighbors. They were tired of worshiping an invisible God!
· Israel wanted a man as their king…in steps Saul. 1Sam 8-10
· Saul was the people’s choice award winner! Saul was 30 years old when he became king. Then possibly two years into his reign Saul attacks the Philistines stirring up a hornet’s nest. (Chpt 13)
1 Samuel 13:6-14 When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11"What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12I thought, ’Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’S favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
13"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’S command."
Saul: A Man After His Own Heart… Sure-fire ways to spiritually crash:
1. SELF - Centeredness. 1Sam 13:6-14
· Throughout the reign of Saul we see a self-centered individual. Doing what he thought was best with his own plans.
· In pride, he lived a life of jealousy toward David that consumed him until he fell on his own sword during a battle.
· Saul was thin-skinned, hot tempered, given to depression doing things his way, things turned wrong – disillusioned.
2. DISOBEDIENT 1Sam 13:13 & 15:19-23
1 Samuel 13:13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
· “Saul was impressive on the outside yet he unimpressed God with his heart on the inside”. Insecure, disobedient.
· Saul’s disobedience revealed that he was not a man after God’s own heart but a man after his own heart.
· Saul wasn’t a man after God’s heart and therefore he was disqualified from greater blessing and leadership.
· OBEDIENCE: Wait no longer – OBEY! Rebel no more – OBEY! Rationalize no further – OBEY!
· Saul was the great rationalizer, highly concerned about his public image and holding on to his power.
RESULTS of a man after his own heart… REJECTION by God. 1Sam 16:1
1 Samuel 16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
· With an unrepentant heart Saul’s continued disobedience led to his rejection by God.
· When God rejects, it opens our lives up to attacks that are allowed by God.
1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
What kind of people does God chose and use? (1Co. 1:26-29) God turns nobodies into somebodies!
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart…
God’s Formula for Spiritual vitality:
1. GOD - Centeredness. 1Sam 13:14
1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’S command."
· David was not perfect yet his heart was focused in the right direction, upon the Lord.
· David walked in humility not pride that allowed him to exhibit a reverent awe in “the fear the Lord”. Prov. 1:7
· God looks for the spiritual, the yielded, the humble whom He can work through. He’s the Potter we’re the clay!
2. OBEDIENCE Acts 13:22
Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ’I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
· David was initially “Unimpressive on the outside yet on the inside he impressed God with his heart”.
· The Hoosiers coach said, “Lesser talent often is made up for by greater heart”. A passion to win!
It is not the multitude of hard duties, it is not constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice, to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us, to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to seek out duty in the present moment, to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God. Fenelon
· “One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it”. - Oswald Chambers
· “The cost of obedience is nothing compared with the cost of disobedience”. – Anon
Have you checked the labels on your grocery items lately? You may be getting less than you thought. According to U.S. News & World Report, some manufacturers are selling us the same size packages we are accustomed to, but they are putting less of the product in the box. For example, a box of well-known detergent that once held 61 ounces now contains only 55. Same size box, less soap. How something is wrapped doesn’t always show us what’s on the inside. That’s true with people as well. We can wrap ourselves up in the same packaging every day—nice clothes, big smile, friendly demeanor—yet still be less than what we appear to be. Our Daily Bread, June 22, 1992
· The real you is within you – your passion, your drive, your motivation to serve the risen Christ in obedience.
· God does not measure us by our handsomeness, our beauty, our height, or our expertise but by our hearts.
· You cannot fake it with the Lord God Almighty. Whatever the “package” He sees the heart!
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
· David is a man who sought the heart of God. The inward qualities take time and discipline to cultivate.
· Cave dwelling, David said - Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
· David shines brightly in Israel’s history because God was impressed with his heart. His heart was authentic!
· The Lord tells us in the book of Acts about the heart of David:
Acts 13:20-23 "…After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ’I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23"From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
· During Christ’s triumphal entry the people cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Not to Moses, Noah, etc)
RESULTS of a man after God’s own heart… ACCEPTANCE by God. 1Sam 16:13
1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
David’s passion after God’s Own Heart was demonstrated by his WILLINGNESS to do (not sit) everything (all, not some) God (not self) wanted him to do!
Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in ‘71 admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn’t call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have a “genius mind” when it came to football strategy, pride said that he should be able to run his own team.
Roger later said, “I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory.”
TODAY – we need to obey!
Are you a person after God’s own Heart?
The prerequisite for blessing & responsibility is a GODLY HEART.
The proof of having a Godly Heart is a WHOLEHEARTED, JOYOUS, OBEDIENCE.
God spells “LOVE” – “O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E”
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
How’s your heart? Are you being obedient?
Are you doing everything God wants you to do?
Let’s Pray
