What made David a man after Gods own heart?

Hello,

recently, i've been studying the life of David.
God says about him that he was "a man after my own heart"..
So my question is, what made him that man?
When you read through the story of David, especially in the time when he was anointed to be king, but yet wasn't king, you see him running away, stealing, lying, playing crazy.
And yet it says "God was with him".
David wasn't perfect but god loved him.
So I am asking, what does us make men and women after gods own heart?
What is he looking for in us?

Daniel

Here's a little something that might get us started on discussing this topic.

God's heart is...
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
(Psa 132:13-14)
David's heart was...
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
(Psa 27:4)

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
(Psa 27:8)
Also, Devern Fromke preached an excellent message on this topic titled David-The Fulfiller of God's Will. It can be downloaded from SI [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=1656]HERE[/url]. I highly recommend listening to the entire 'David' series from Mr. Fromke.

In Christ,

Ron

Great question Daniel.

I think that David shared something of God's heart, and God's desires. If God was angry with evil doers so was David. If God was grieved at sin and sinners so was David. If God was filled with love and compassion to people who did not deserve it, so was David. If God was concerned for His glory and Name, so was David. God's priorities were David's priorities, thus God's heart became David's.

And most wonderfully of all, how does God speak of His servant David to humans after he had long died. As a man after His own heart. But what about his sin, his adultery and murder etc. Well, God remembered his sin no more, he looked forward to the sacrifice of His Son and counted David righteous and blamless on His merit!

though david commited adultery, disobeyed God with the census, and other things, remember he truly repented of them. when david knew he commited sin that grieved God's heart, it broke him and he cried out to God for forgiveness and mercy so God forgave Him. though God forgave Him of his sins, david still had to suffer the consequenses.

i wanted to add this because i didn't want some to think its o.k. to commit sin here and there because david did it. we must remember also how those sins broke david and that he truly repented of them. a lot of people remember david's sins, and forget that he repented and cried out to God with a broken heart. and just like david, if we commit such sins as david, yes God will forgive us if we truly confess and repent of our sins, but just like david, we still have to suffer the consequences of our sins.

david was a beautiful man who truly love the Lord and desire to obey God with all His heart. his faith and trust toward God was great! read his psalms!

like one of the posters said, david broke when God broke. he despised sin just like God. david knew his calling and waited patiently for the Lord to raise him up. when things were looking bad and it seems that david will be killed before ever being king, david stood firm and continue to TRUST God no matter what (thats faith that touches God!!!)

David had also a good understanding of the mercy of God, like he said in Ps 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

I learned a lot from this because we (especially me) have something in us that wants to make it right with God. Yes it is the start of being reconciled with God through Christ in the first place but after that point there are sometimes moments when I want to do it myself. But like david said we can't offer anything from ourselves to reconcile us with Him. It is only by His mercy because of His loving kindness.

And i think that this is one of the aspects of David why he was a man after the heart of God. Because he starts to call on the mercy of the Lord instead of trying a lot of things first.

I think it was as some have already said. Was it was David's humlity to be rebuked and an honest heart.

David when faced with his sin, he listened to the Spirit's promotings, he didn't avoid it as Saul did. If you read the Psalms, you see an amazing amount of honesty before God, David didn't have any masks on when he spoke with God, but talked to Him normally.

Personally, no scriptures to confirm (because I haven't dived into this topic that deep), I think it was simply the humility and honesty.

And if anyone finds any scriptures on this topic, please share more, because I've heard this question raised a few times.

'Myfirstlove', thanks for adding what you added. It was not my intention to make light of David's sin or to encourage a carelessness among Christians. I was just amazed by the thought that like David, if we confess and truly repent, because of Christ He sees no stain upon us. he dosen't overlook my sin, its been paid and washed away. Hallelujah!

Here is another verse that may be of help...
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
(Psa 40:17)

This thought of being poor and needy can be found throughout the psalms David wrote. It shows that he knew very well his utter dependence on God in every circumstance. And God delights to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.

In Christ,

Ron

Before you guys close this thread I wanted to make a comment about David and his character. He was a humble man to be sure. Meek, difinitly.

David was above all else a humanitarian, even in the midst of his sin and the seperation from God he was experiencing when Nathan the prophet laid out his story, King David was quick to come to the defense of the helpless, that one who seemingly had suffered such an injustice, here's a secret, God who knows the hearts of all knew David had a heart for people. And that so closely mirrors God's heart, and that's just one more characteristic that made David a man after God's heart. I trust this little observation will bless you all.Bro. Daryl

brother Daniel,
I believe this sermon will be great blessing to you:

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=7266&commentView=itemComments]A Man After God's Own Heart by Keith Daniel[/url]

God bless you,
Kire

thank you for all your replys.
has the sermon a good quality?
(i am german, and i need a clear quality to understand).
does anyone know the book called somewhat like "growing with david" by charles swindoll?

daniel

I came late to the party but would like to add a couple of pointers.

1. There is an event in the life of David that was secret for many years to all but God. This event showed David's instincts and marked him as a man 'according to God's own heart'.

[color=0000ff]“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” (1Sam 17:34-36 KJVS)[/color]

David was by nature and task a 'good shepherd'. He recklessly risked his life for a lamb from the flock. I suspect that God saw it and said 'that's the man to be king'.

2. The second event comes later in his reign. David was king and his enemies scattered. At such a time most eastern monarchs would have constructed a 'hit list' but David's instinct again shows his character.

[color=0000ff]“And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.” (2Sam 9:3 KJVS)[/color]

This is not just 'kindness' but the 'kindness of God'. The word is 'chesed' - covenant-mercy. This story is a glorious expression of the 'kindness of God' to poor broken sinners who are given a permanent place at His table. It's another example of David's heart being like God's.

In many aspects David's heart was not like God's, but in these aspects it was.

brethren
this is an interesting topic...a man can't come after God's own heart of his own accord unless God draws him. i think all the things which david did were as a result of God putting the necessary attributes in him from when he wa sin the womb.

bro Ron said this which i think really hits home and speaks ot that point.

This is not just 'kindness' but the 'kindness of God'. The word is 'chesed' - covenant-mercy. This story is a glorious expression of the 'kindness of God' to poor broken sinners who are given a permanent place at His table. It's another example of David's heart being like God's.

anything we do which is like God or shows God in us is because He put it there, it is not a thing we can manufacture.

In many aspects David's heart was not like God's, but in these aspects it was.

indeed bro Ron, and how true is this of each of us!

a man can't come after God's own heart of his own accord unless God draws him. i think all the things which david did were as a result of God putting the necessary attributes in him from when he wa sin the womb.

Yes, brother Ironman, I'm postive that David would've agreed with you completely. :)