A Man After God's Own Heart

Intro

Text - 1 Samuel 13.14; Acts 13.22

1 Samuel 13:14 NKJV

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Acts 13:22 NKJV

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

Title - A Man After God’s Own Heart

Background

The Story -

Israel desired to have king like the nations around them

prophet Samuel was grieved at the people’s request

Saul was picked and anointed, only to fail early.

Saul was rejected and his kingdom cut short

God declares His chosen

The story was the classic case of man making his own choice outside of God’s will.

Saul was chosen by men, although anointed by God.

God’ has His own choice

Thoughts to Explore

what does it mean to be “after God’s own heart”?

Three things that cannot be separated

God’s heart

God’s will

God’s work

God’s Heart - “after My own heart”

“the Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart”

“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart”

It means “God’s own plan”

Psalm 33:10–11 NKJV

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.

Proverbs 19:21 NKJV

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

It means “God’s own choice”

God chose Jacob to gain the blessing - Romans 9.11-12

What’s the Point?

God has chose David to be Israel’s king before the foundation of the world

before Saul was chosen by the people

“The Lord has commanded him...” even before he was anointed

he was anointed in 1 Samuel 16

Your part in the plan and work of God has already been determined before you even knew it!

Romans 8:28–30 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

God makes all things work together for your life - because He called you for a purpose.

God’s Will - “who will do all my will”

Acts 13:22 NKJV

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

“I have found David...”

does not mean God “considered David’s qualities and he passed God’s standard”.

It means God “has already determined who will do all His will” - His “elect”!

“he will do all my will”

it means this is the man I have determined to accomplish will for this specific work.

examples

Joseph

Paul

Jesus

What’s the Point?

God has already appointed men and women who will do the work according to His plan, in a specific and time and age.

God has no plan B for those who will fail, because -

God’s plan will not fail!

What if I fail?

If God has chosen you to do His work, you cannot fail. How? the third point has the answer.

God’s Work - “I have anointed him”

Psalm 89:20 NKJV

20 I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him,

The anointing of David means he was identified as the person chosen by God

Israel anointed David twice

2 Samuel 2.4 - over Judah

2 Samuel 5.3 - over all Israel

but God has already anointed Him in Jesse’s house - 1 Samuel 16

The anointing of David means his life is now consecrated and dedicated to do the work of God.

when man anoints a man, the give a symbol of authority or function

when God anoints a man, He gives His Spirit

1 Samuel 16:12–13 NKJV

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

The anointing of David marks the beginning of God’s work in His life.

Psalm 89:21–26 NKJV

21 With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. 24 “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted. 25 Also I will set his hand over the sea, And his right hand over the rivers. 26 He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

God will strengthen him

God will make sure the enemy does not outwit him

God will beat down his foes

God’s mercy and faithfulness will be with him

What’s the Point?

The anointing did not make David smarter, stronger, better man.

But it made way for the Spirit of the Almighty God to work despite his frail personality.

God will anoint with His Spirit those He has chosen to do His work.

yes, there are false anointed ones - like Saul

but there also true anointed men and women of God!

God’s anointing will insure that the work is accomplished!

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

God’s people today

They are not diferent from king David

they are ordinary men and women

they have no special qualities

they are not even qualified at all

But they have these three things

they are a people chosen by God

they are chosen to fulfil God’s plans for this day

they will be anointed to insure that the work of God is accomplished

How can we identify these people of God?

Note - these are not “qualities” but “characteristics” -

quality means marks that “qualify”

characteristic means marks that identify or distinguish

Like David, they love to worship God once taught about God.

David worshiped and sang to God in the wilderness as well as in the house!

David’s anger was aroused when he heard Goliath’s defiance of Israel and mockery of God.

Like David, they have respect for and submit to authority.

David continued to serve king Saul despite the dangers to his own life

David did no harm to king Saul despite the many opportunities given to him

Like David, they seek the counsel of God before they make decisions.

David always asked God before he went into battle!

Like David, they have a zeal for the house of God

he did not like to see himself living in a palace while the Ark of the covenant was in a tent!

although it was his son Solomon who eventually built the house for the LORD, God was pleased at his heart’s desire.

God rewarded him - I will build and establish your house forever

read - 2 Samuel 7.5-13 - Solomon was the man who was to build the house for the LORD

Conclusion

Heart to Heart with God

Samuel could not identify God’s chosen while he looked for outward qualities

God taught him His way

1 Samuel 16:6–7 NKJV

6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God looks at the heart

not “in the heart” - as if looking for qualities that will qualify a person before God

at the heart - the “heart” is the person God saw in His mind when He planned His work

Are you God’s chosen people in these last days?

If so, what is your role in the end-time work of God?

You cannot be chosen and called without a purpose, a plan from God who called you!

How do you know?

Compare your characteristics with king David’s -

what is your passion?

how much do you love the house of God?

do you care enough for the church?

have you respect, do you submit to authority? evenwhen they make mistakes?

how do you feel when the enemy roars over God’s army?

SONG

Sovereign Over Us (chorus)