02/19/2023
King David was referred to as a man after GOD's own heart.
What does it mean to have a heart after GOD?
The scriptures teach us that if we want to be associated with GOD, we need to have these motivations entrenched in our spirits:
· We must hunger for Obedience of GOD’s will thru HIS Word.
· It is why we study the bible; to know GOD & things HE is dissatisfied & satisfied with
· We must have a living, vibrant and ever-growing Faith in GOD.
· We must Seek God first and with desperation ...get to know GOD (knowledge).
· We must honor and praise GOD as the only ONE deserving of our praise.
· We must seek to serve HIM with humility.
David showed these attributes through his writings.
Devoted to GOD. – “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.” Psalm 4:7. He was devoted to their relationship.
Faithful – “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6
Loving – “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1
Obedient – “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” Psalm 119:34
Reverent – or fear of the LORD. David had a heart that feared God. It is a fear that wants to avoid displeasing or disappointing GOD. “I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3
Trusting – “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Repentant – When he realized that he sinned, David sought to Restore His Relationship with God. Psalm 51:4 “Against you, you only, have I sinned…”
David understood that GOD could not tolerate sin.
Look at his response to GOD in Psalm 51:7-12
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
When he confessed his sins, David asked the Lord for six things:
1. He asked the Lord to cleanse him
2. He asked the Lord to forgive him
3. He asked the Lord to heal him.
4. He asked the Lord to purify his heart.
5. He asked the Lord to give him a steadfast spirit.
6. He asked the Lord not to take away HIS Holy Spirit from him.
Boldness and reverence begin to tell the heart of David as he approached GOD in prayer.
However, there is one more attribute that we shouldn’t overlook:
7. David was Humble – Several occasions, David demonstrated his humility. Look at the books of Samuel and discover David’s response to:
When King Saul offered David his daughter in marriage (I Sam 18;18, 23).
After GOD made a covenant with him (2 Samuel 7:18).
“Who am I?” Even as a king, David refers to himself as a servant!
David submitted to the will of FATHER.
David’s example is a great road map for how we are to live our life.
This could be overwhelming if it weren’t for one thing: Love.
I would say that the greatest attribute of David was his love for GOD. Love is the motive for the other strong traits of David.
Speaking of Love, during this study, my mind drifted back to a memory while listening to one of the greatest songwriters of our time: Steveland Morris or Stevie Wonder. Look at the lyrics of a song written in 1976 called “Love’s in need of Love Today.” The words are so beautiful:
Love's in need of love today
Don't delay.
Send yours in right away.
Hate's goin' 'round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please.
Before it's gone too far, yeah.
The force of evil plans …To make you, its possession.
And it will if we let it … Destroy everybody.
We all must take Precautionary measures.
If love and peace you treasure … Then you'll hear me when I say
Loves in need of love today.
Maybe you can see Stevie Wonder’s point.
Maybe you can see the message GOD gave to him through his song.
Love grows and grows because it feeds off itself.
GOD is love and because of that HE feeds off the love that is mutually shared between each of us, between us and HIM.
It works in the church as well. We share our love for GOD which feeds into the growth of love around the world. We just need to do our part.
Unfortunately, the same holds true for evil….it feeds off each other and influence each to give back evil for evil.
Does this make sense?
The scriptures call GOD loving, kind, forgiving and merciful. For example:
1 John 4:7 - 10 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
How many times is love mentioned? 12 times (one of the GODly numbers (1,3,7 and 12)
How many times is GOD mentioned? 9 times. So, we need to love. Love GOD and HIS commandments, Love our neighbors. Love ourselves.
Loving GOD important? I’d yes emphatically yes!
Matthew 22:37-39 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
GOD is love.
Jesus epitomizes the love of GOD.
He did it on the cross.
Just like a lion reflects courage and as such is reputed to be the King of the Jungle, Jesus is a reflection of love. GOD is a reflection of love, David was a reflection of love.
So how do you know you a man/woman after GOD's own heart?
Faith
Obedience
Humility
The most essential characteristic of GOD and David is love.
I Samuel 16:7 “…the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Be a citizen of love.
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