A Man After God's Own Heart

1 Samuel 13:14

Introduction:  Go to I Sam. 16 - The man of God's brethren apparently were not men after God's own heart.  Interestingly enough, all seven had the:

            1. Calling- vs. 5

            2. Consecration - vs. 5 - were sanctified and set apart

            3. Countenance - vs. 6, 7 - looked good; fit the bill; looked the part; looked like a king

However, they did not have the Character that God was searching for - the character that would qualify them to be leaders - the character that would win the heart of God.

AFTER HIS OWN HEART - means understands God's heart; does things the way God would; a heart like God's!

• Matthew 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

David was a man after God's own heart because of his:

I. Faithfulness to the Flock

I Sam. 16:11 - even though no doubt he heard the man of God was in town - wasn't easily distracted.

I Sam. 17:28 - his flock was small and ridiculed and insignificant, but not to him!

• His brothers belittled the flock (those few sheep) but he didn't care; they were important to him!

I Sam. 17:34 - They weren't even his sheep! They were his father's.  But he had been placed there.

God is looking for faithfulness!!  You will win God's heart by loving the church as He loved it and not forsaking it!!

II. Fondness for the Family - II Sam. 5:1

We are thy bone and thy flesh - they knew he cared about them! God's people were HIS people!

1 Peter 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

III. Fearlessness in the Fight - II Sam. 5:2

            A. A man of Action - Is there not a cause? I Sam. 17:29  He was a fighting machine!! David's brothers were chickens!  Wimps!  Cowards!  That is why God didn't choose them.

            B. A man of Accountability - Thou shalt feed my people... That's how he could FEED them!!  He gave them something to help them carry on for God!  He kept them going!

            C. A man of Authority - thou shalt be a captain over Israel.  Only 30 years old!

His authority was - his walk matched his talk! 

Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

IV. Forgiveness of the Foolish - I Sam. 17:28; II Sam. 16:5

            A. David's character wouldn't allow him to sulk over false accusations and mistreatment.

            B. David realized that God allowed problems to make him better - not bitter.

            C. He was rational and logical in the face of opposition - not irrational and illogical.

V. Focused on the Future

• He didn't let the fact that he was alone, hunted, in danger and hated make him a quitter.
• He took those he had around him and instead of focusing on their failures, he focused on their future.
• He had been anointed to be the next king of Israel, and he couldn't even sleep in his own bed!
• He started building an army that would one day make the will of God for his life a reality.

Started with a cave full of miserable men - I Sam. 22:2 - Ended with a cave full of mighty men - 2 Sam. 23

Wasn't interested in being big and famous and well known; he was willing to help those in need.