A Man After My Heart

STUDY: #964-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: JANUARY 16 @ 23, 2018

Topic: "A Man After My Heart" Acts 13:22 The heart is not merely the muscle that pumps blood. With it we feel, we decide, we love. Many people have an emotional relationship with God. They know the Scriptures, the doctrine, and they even defend the Church; but they are only convinced. They do not live their lives committed to the love of the Lord. Is this the case with you? The big risk with this is that when you experience a grief, a powerful attack, or something exciting and attractive it can conquer your heart. You lose faith when you’re living through the pains, betrayals, and worst of all: you lose your heart for God! That's why Proverbs says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance..." Acts 13:22 "... he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will’." God says of David that he is a "man according to my heart." With this, the Lord means that David’s heart is equal, corresponding, in agreement, with the same opinion, united; it agrees with the decision to make a judgment. That is, God and David think alike! David was according to the heart of God. For that reason, he would be the one who would do "everything I want." How good would it be to be so full in God that we would do everything He wants! Yes, amen! Saul stopped winning. He missed out on the opportunity of having God see him as He saw David. Saul's heart was merely convinced of being the king of Israel. But when all the vanity came to him, it was very easy for him to give in (yield to external pressures). King Saul was good at disobeying. He did not have faith in God. What happened to the king? Since Saul did not have a heart willing to obey, he offered sacrifice that only Samuel was allowed to do (I Samuel 13:8-14). Saul waited seven days according to the deadline that Samuel had given him. But when the people pressured him, he gave in, and went ahead to offer the holocaust. Even if this were a valid excuse, it would not change the fact that Saul had disobeyed God. Such disobedience caused him to lose his kingship, because God needs "a man according to his own heart." Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Jesse and his sons were invited to the feast of sacrifice, and David was not there. The prophet Samuel searched and searched for the next king of Israel, who was supposed to be in front of him. But Samuel could not choose any of those who were in front of him. How difficult! Samuel must have been so confused! David was so young, for that reason, he could not go to war. He was only in charge of the sheep. He was too simple to be a king. But at Samuel’s request, they had to send for David, to bring him to the party (Vs.11). Apparently, when it came to Samuel’s visit, in the eyes of his father, David was insignificant. Jesse probably thought that the prophet would not be interested in David. But Jehovah was very interested in the young shepherd! And Samuel, obedient to the voice of God, anointed David! From that day forward, the kingdom was guaranteed to be David’s, although it would be years before David wore Saul’s crown. God looks for certain characteristics in men: 1) HUMILITY. Even though David was anointed king, he continued to perform the same task he had: taking care of his sheep. We see that in I Samuel 17:28 the Word says that David’s older brother was looking at him when David asked about Goliath and belittled him by saying: "I know your pride and the malice of your heart that to see the battle you have come." It was not like that. David was not proud, and there was no malice in him. He arrived there because of his father’s order to take food to his brothers (Vs.17). When David learned of the challenge and threat of Goliath, he killed him. In I Samuel 18:23 David himself said: Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation? And in David’s humility, he always honored Saul, despite Saul’s persecutions and attempts to kill him (I Samuel 18:11 "And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David evaded him twice.") Saul attacked him and went mad, because envy is harmful. But David was a LOYAL man. In spite of everything, he knew how to honor the man anointed by God. Another characteristic is 2) REPENTANCE. We read in Psalm 51:1-12 that David showed genuine repentance for his sin. The last characteristic 3) OBEDIENCE

is also necessary in a man like David. He knew how to act, in the time indicated by God, and Goliath could not compete with David’s youth and fervor (I Samuel 17: 33-36). Contrary to Saul, David distinguished himself by having a heart according to the heart of God. His humility, obedience and disposition to repentance validated him to be a faithful servant of the Lord, and king of Israel. What about your heart? Amen.