THE MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART

In Acts 13:22, we have this amazing tribute to King David.  "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.'"  A man after God's 
own heart—what a beautiful description of the faith and character of the shepherd boy 
turned king.

Wouldn't you love to have the God of the universe describe you as someone with His 
heart?  Someone who thinks His thoughts and does things His way?  Someone who truly 
demonstrates GODLY qualities and SPIRITUAL traits?  Like David, our pursuit in life 
should be the very heart of God Himself!

When you study the life of David as recorded in the Old Testament, you find a 
fascinating paradox—a man who rose to "hero status" among the Israelites and a man 
whose failures are among the most recognizable of all Biblical characters.  In the same 
breath we celebrate his victory over Goliath as we are aghast at his adulterous 
relationship with Bathsheba.  We marvel at his piety revealed in the 23rd Psalm, only to 
be devastated as we witness his efforts to have Uriah killed.  Of all the Old Testament 
figures, why does David stand out as the one man "after God's own heart"?

Perhaps an insight is found in the account of Absalom's revolt against his father David (2 
Samuel 13-19).  During a vicious civil war, David is forced to send his troops into battle 
against the forces of his own son who was trying to overthrow him.  As part of David's 
instructions to his troops was his plea that they deal "gently" with the young man 
Absalom.  However, during the course of the battle, Absalom was killed.

When David learned of the victory of his forces, he was more interested in the fate of his 
son than in the victory he had won.  When finally told of Absalom's death, David 
responded with incredible heartache, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If 
only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Samuel 18:33).  What 
anguish of soul!  What demonstration of love in the midst of rejection!  No wonder he is 
described as a man after God's own heart.

Why, you may ask?         

Because someone else has felt the same way about those he loved who were in rebellion 
against him.  Perhaps you get a better insight by reading the verse and filling in your own 
name in the blank:

"O my child ___________! My child, my child ____________!  If only I 
had died instead of you—O ___________, my child, my child!"

Except this time, God did!  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only 
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."