David: A Man After God"s Own Heart

Well this event will begin a new series on the life of David in Scripture. Various people are described as men of God's servants of God friends of God. Even those who walked with God and who are loved by God, but only David this is remarkable is that only David and all of Scripture Old Testament, the New Testament is described as a man after God's own heart. If you have your Bible there. Turn with me.

First of first Samuel chapter 13 and will read that they are in them will read the Pottle passage in acts chapter 13 that's first Samuel Old Testament we have the printer choke that we have various other books and their first Samuel in my Bible is page 282, but probably few of you have my Bible fact only. I have my Bible, but some of you might have similar Bibles for Samuel chapter 13, Israel's first king was Saul learn to bite him in a minute and Samuel said to Saul as Israel king you have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God with which he commanded you, for then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart that it is notices the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. And the Lord has commanded him to be a prince over his people because it used so I'm not kept the Lord commanded you, so Saul is set aside. Now, in acts chapter 13, where Paul rehearses some of the history of ancient Israel acts chapter 13 is talking about the nations good into Canaan.

Verse 20 of acts 13. All of this took about 450 years and after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of case, a man of the tribe of Benjamin for 14 years. I notice how Paul writing under the inspiration of Scripture puts this, and when he God had removed him, he raised up David to be the king of whom he testified and said I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart who will do all my will, of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.

A man after God's own heart. Surely there is no higher accommodation would be wonderful if it could be said of you and me, your man, woman, boy, girl after God's one heart first Samuel second Samuel and first Chronicles are largely devoted to the life of David, so if you want to learn about David the 31st Samuel second Samuel and first Chronicles hears Israel's greatest king is Israel's greatest leader, all other things are going to be compared to David is as he himself describes himself as the sweet psalmist of Israel. One of the major writers of the hundred and 50 Psalms writing, over half of them the Psalms is altered which was the hymnbook of ancient Israel and is mentioned in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament character.

In fact, the New Testament begins and ends with a reference to David the first verse of the New Testament Matthew one verse one begins by Matthew describing the genealogy of Jesus Christ was the first thing he says after theirs as he begins the genealogy of Jesus was the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham is before David chronologically, but David is first mentioned. A man after God's own heart.

We been studying the book of Romans. I mentioned this morning about the Lord's incarnation as he comes in the likeness of sinful flesh Paul in chapter 1 verse three regards the God son and his incarnation.

Who is descended from David according to the flesh.

When Gabriel tells Mary that she is going to bear a son who's going to be called Jesus the angel Gabriel says to Mary on the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there is no and that's Luke one, verses 32 and 33 and in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, Jesus says in Revelation 22 verse 16. I am the roots and the descendents of David.

He is the root of David, but he's also the offspring, the descendent of David, the bright morning star. It is clear from the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The David is one of the most outstanding characters in all of the Bible that David lives a very full life and I think in order to get the big picture this morning.

This evening rather I want to think of David and the three main chapters of his life.

First of all, as the shepherd we think of David.

First of all, as the shepherd. That's how we first meet David were going to meet him in a minute when he's looking after his father's sheep. These are years of obscurity, years of solitude years of preparation years when David as a young boy as a young man as a young adult began to know God and it was then that he was looking after his father's sheep that he's tested by God and never before.

He is anointed by Samuel to be the future King of Israel. God saw David's heart a heart of love for the Lord and the Lord saw that turn to for Samuel. After 16 for Samuel 16 verse one the Lord said to Samuel, how long will you grieve over Saul since I have rejected him from being king over Israel.

Why was Saul rejected. Is this a bridge and he disobeyed the commandment of the Lord is the regions is serious to God fill your heart with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse, the bathroom might notice this, but I have provided for myself I king among his sons, God is going to call David and before David is anointed. God saw his heart. He saw a young man who had a heart for God, David's prepared himself spiritually for this immense task that lay ahead of them and as a young boy looking after his father's sheep.

He had no idea of what God had for him I believe that for all of us. There was a time of preparation, God has a time of preparation for us. Martyn Lloyd Jones, the Welsh preacher said that the worst thing that can happen to a man is to succeed before he is ready.

That is what does he mean by that that means when someone is thrust into the spotlight in the spiritual realm and whatever smear of service and his heart is not ready. He may be talented, you may be gifted he may be well educated, he may be very, very popular, but if his heart is not prepared. Martyn Lloyd Jones as that is not a good thing to succeed before all of us here want to do great things for God. We want to be used by God, I would suggest would be here on the Sunday evening if you didn't have a desire to do that.

But the quiet time of preparation is essential. Our society does emphasize that our society likes to make instant celebrities. How important if you're going to be effective for God that there is a time of preparation. Some of you in that place right now. You don't feel you doing anything particularly significant for the Lord your living is a letter in relative obscurity, but God knows your God knows your heart and God is preparing you whether you to do your to be faithful God sees your heart. Jesus said in Luke 16 verse and one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much do you think God would've called David to be a shepherd of these people. If he had not been a faithful shepherd of shape is looking after sheep is an easy task, not really.

If you know much about shape, but you can say well anyone could look after shape. I don't know of anyone could, but suddenly many people could but David was faithful to the task which his father gave him as the youngest son.

This is given to them. David, I want you to look after the shape and David said that.

And David said that we don't know how long. But what we do know is that God was watching David and of all of the men in Israel among the thousands and thousands of them who could have succeeded Saul as king, including Saul's own sons, God and the sovereign purposes chooses the city of man. Why, because he has a heart for God, looking after sheep is not that easy.

You have to be fed to be elected to be protected and to be cared for, but can you imagine we would never have done this.

But God calls to be king of Israel.

Shepherd, a young shepherd, probably in his mid to late teens masking you faithful person is a line on the big responsibilities okay but are you faithful in what God has given you people depend on you in ministry here when you say you're going to do a particular task or you faithful person you faithful at work when your employer describe you as a person who is reliable whose hard-working whose honest dependable and then this client time or what use are you making of the time you want to do something big for God will God want you to sit and do something that a little and to test your faithfulness in the small thing to use that time in the word of God or by your prayer life. Do you love God. Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you presently serving God ice on the many people that they tell me when they would love to be a mission right away. The other end of the earth.

And I say to them is wonderful. But what are you doing I was wearing for the Lord will not much that is not like that David is faithful to the ministry that God if it is not the way God calls his servants think of how brief the ministry of John the Baptist was very shocked possibly not even a year in terms of his public ministry. Most of his life is spent growing up alone in the wilderness knowing God and then God calls him and John comes and preaches repentance is the forerunner of Christ. Think of our Savior himself who lived 3334 35 years. How long of that was in the public ministry. Three years many years of preparation years of communion with his father and then he burst into the scene then comes and announces the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of God is at hand is not the way that God often works. Don't neglect the time of preparation.

David, as a shepherd.

But secondly, much of the first and second Samuel and Chronicles is to do with David as the outlaw for several years after David is anointed king is in the rejection is an outcast desire law. Why is that because he is persecuted for so no he's not immediately comes to the throne after being anointed. No is going to take years before he is going to be king, and during that time until the death of Saul. David is hundred and persecuted and hated by Saul. These were excruciatingly difficult years for David as he deals with the jealousy and the sheer hatred of King Saul. And if you're familiar with the Psalms. Many of the Psalms are written by David. During these times of isolation these times of persecution these times of despair. These times of darkness these times when he's crying out to the Lord. How long is this going to last.

Serving God is easy as it if you been following Christ for any length of time you know that is the case with serving God faithfully is not always easy. Yes, on the mountaintop experiences for. There's also the valleys and as you serve God, you're going to experience like David times of suffering, times of misunderstanding, perhaps regular own family labs by fellow believers, times of loneliness, times of disloyalty, times of betrayal, times of isolation that was David with tremendous preparation spiritually as we come to the third phase, which is of course the time when he was carrying shepherd the outlaw and then the king that when David is first anointed by Samuel were going to do that in a minute.

He knew he would be king but he had to wait many many years before he came to the throne he was going to reign as king of four is seven years inhabitant and then he was going to come to Jerusalem. He is the great Shepherd cane of his people. Here is a mighty man of valor is a man-of-war. He's a tremendous administrator.

He rules with justice and equity, Israel's greatest king.

As I said in under his reign. He brings peace to the people of Israel when a king with a tremendous Shepherd, King David was say oh yes, he failed and amazing how quickly we point point-to-point refills are people. Yes I know David failed is true is all very badly. He transgressed within the mercy of God in the grace of God is restored and stands in Scripture.

According to the test of Monet of God himself that this is a man after my own heart. He is the shepherd. The outlaw and the cake now. I think like me, you're intrigued by my God would call David a man after his own heart, not a common description attracted unique description, what description one dimension for things that may help us understand why he is called a man after God's own heart. First of all, he is God's choice. Let's read that in first Samuel 16. I read the first verse let's read the first 13 verses of first Samuel 16 verse one the Lord said to Samuel, how long will you grieve over so since I rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your heart with all and I will send you to Jesse, the Bethel might, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons and Samuel said I cannot go if Saul hears that he will kill me.

And the Lord said to Catherine with you and say I'd come to sacrifice to the Lord and in my Jesse to the sacrifice and I will show you what you shall do and you shall annoying for me him whom I declare to you, Samuel did with the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem the elders of the city came to him trembling and said they come peaceably and he said peaceably. I've come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice and he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice to get the picture. When they came. He looked on, Ellie, Abba, and thought surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

The Lord said to Samuel do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature.

Ellie must've been a big fellow because I have rejected him for the Lord sees not as a man sees man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Then Jesse called up in a dab and made him pass before Samuel and he said neither has the Lord chosen this one then Jesse made sure my past body and he said neither has the Lord chosen this one, and Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel and Samuel said to Jesse, the Lord has not chosen these, and Samuel said to Jesse, and all your sons here.

He said the remains, yet the youngest but holdings keeping the shape I mean he's there but we could not shoot you a picture. Samuel said to Jesse, send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here in the center and brought him in that he was running and had beautiful eyes and was handsome and the Lord said, arise anointed for this is he, then Samuel to Gordon Gordon of oil and anointed them in the midst of his brothers in the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward and Samuel rose up and went to Romano, a man after God's own heart by he is chosen by God for the unique and the special task. Who was Saul his predecessor Saul was the People's choice was back to chapter 8 of four Samuel 84 Samuel H4 Samuel eight versus verse 19 but the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said no but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, you know it's not cool that we don't have the king. Some liberal announces global and we just want to be like everyone else that our king may judge over us and go out before us and fight our battles. Problem is with that is a battle to befall with life. Saul wasn't the one who does it is a will think of the next week and when Samuel had heard all of the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of the Lord and the Lord said to Samuel, obey their voice and make them a king. Samuel then said to the city of Israel to the men of Israel go every man to his city so most of you know the story Saul Israel wants to be like other nations, they want to king of God was to be the king God was to be the command of God was to lead them into battle really wanted the human leader and God gave them the desire. Saul is chosen and is a very impressive and physically he's handsome. He's had a shoulders above everyone else. He would make a magnificent quarterback Woodley Saul, your team could do with one, like Saul, he is there. Imagine this guy on your team head and shoulders above everyone else. Very impressive. Physically looks good. Staff appears to be a strong leader. The kind of mind that you would follow into battle the kind of man. If there is a giant wanting to fight against you. That would go in civil out there with him. That is, you think so, but is marked by arrogance is to initially show some humility, but later is marked by arrogance and disobedience. He disobeys the voice of God and the Lord reject Saul from being king. We saw that in chapter 16 verse one ideas going to come to aside and by taking his own life and being beheaded by the Philistines. You can read it at the end of four Samuel David. In contrast, was not the People's choice, but he was God's choice. David didn't volunteer to be king David's father didn't say or Samuel have common law distilled you one of my sons is going to be king.

I don't have anyone for you. This is David. Isn't he going to be good. No sins of the father and almost forgotten about them until Samuel says these all your sense David is not even home when Samuel comes to the house know he's not chosen by God because of his physical features.

Although the Scripture says he was a handsome man, but because God saw his heart again. Chapter 16 verse one, but I have provided for myself, says God, king among his sons because God had been watching David as he grew up in Bethlehem to believe that God watches you to go to work tomorrow morning go to work at that bank in the hospital at school that store off to study at college mother at home doing the routine things of life and you think this is this is not that important. Wonderful to know that God is watching us and God is assessing us and God knows our heart. David yes was the youngest of the family. He probably was the smallest.

Some translations, at least in the VSV when it talks about David being the youngest in verse 11 in my food know that has our smallest that I come from a family of six sons and let me tell you size is important brothers so of the six Sundays I have three brothers that are taller than me and did they like to tell me and God's grace I wasn't at the smallest, I felt I was right there 6 feet perfect size that was me, but I brothers or 6263. Unfortunately for me, one who is 5 feet 10 1/2. Don't forget half-inch so Ellie comes easily impressive and very tall.

And that's why God has to say to Samuel, no, no, no, don't look on his rights. That's not the criteria is he was God's choice the wonderful to know that God is always ahead preparing his people for the particular class going to be the missionaries sent from Calvary church who are going to be our elders and deacons or future pastors are Sunday school teachers are different volunteers in the wonderful to know that God is ahead of us. We sometimes think of who he was going to do this week. We need this person that we need that person. God is aware ahead of us, preparing his people preparing circumstances. It is the Holy Spirit who raises up leaders in the charges and that God does the calling. And God chooses the week to confound the mighty but how important it is for all of us, particularly those who are in leadership, the parts after elders and deacons like leaders. My fellow pastors.

Those of you who teach others, mentoring others, discipling others serving others is your heart for your well educated and give you master the Christian clich�s look pretty good. Got your theology done, but what about your heart, a heart for God, for Samuel 16 verse 18. Look at the qualities that mentions and David know this is before David kills Goliath Lord will and will think of that next week. Verse 18 solve this evil spirit from the Lord want someone to play the lyre and the half with Everett was verse 18.

One of the young man answered bold icing, a son of Jesse, the Bethel might who is skillful in playing as a musician in playing the guitar like people like that don't way a man of valor amount of more prudent and screeching amount of good presence in the Lord is with him. This is before he fights by think of David is just some kind of novice when he goes to tackle glide. As he tells the children of Israel to tell glide know he had that experience of God. He knew God. He loved God he trusted God and his people observed him is this minded and said no let's get someone to cheer up so someone has to skilled musically, I know this one and the Lord is with them new people.

The Lord is with them man after God's will and heart to first he was God's choice. Secondly, he had which I'm going to describe as courageous humility. Now you may think of of courage and humility as opposites.

People who are brave and courageous can sometimes be arrogant, tentatively upfront leader, but David was a leader.

Yes he offers to find allies and you consent out against no, it was courageous humility. He's a strong man of courage, not a spiritual wimp with timidity is mistaken for humility is not sometimes true timidity is mistaken for humility.

The person who doesn't speak someone says well that humble northern not just on the what to say.

Sometimes I read the biography some time ago, Pres. Nixon and the maid I made note of this and I thought of it last night as I was thinking of the slip. He spoke as a president. He spoke at the funeral service of part of Pres. Eisenhower and Nixon said of Pres. Eisenhower and most of you know your American history better than I do. He said he his was the humility, not out of fear but of confidence that was well put. Pres. Eisenhower was humble apparently I didn't know the man and his was the humility, not of fear but of confidence thing that was David. David was humble, but he was courageous. We see his courage for God throughout his life, not only in fighting the Goliath, but in standing against the enemies of God and his deep trust in God produced humility does not make sense. The individual who has a strong trust in God is a humble person because he knows that his success is not because of who he is because of what God is doing in and through him or her.

When Samuel comes to bedroom tonight one of the sons of Jesse is the future King of Israel is upset. David is in their he's the youngest.

Possibly the smallest of eight sons of Jesse is keeping sheep humble task in the stuff to be arrogant when you're a shepherd spending time alone on the hills. Leading is the Israeli shepherds do to this day, leading the flock, not driving the shape as that some shepherds there, but leaving the flock watching over the flock and now he's brought into the presence of Samuel the Lord says that this is a man man whose keeping she probably smelling like sheep.

He has a humble heart of a shepherd and I find it very interesting that even after David is anointed, anointed Hebrew word Messiah. He is anointed as king by Samuel and even after he provides music for King Saul. He is still looking after his father's sheep for Siebel 16 verse 19, Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, send me David, your son, who is with the shape even after he's anointed, and even after he plays in the courts of the King of Israel, this shepherd boy from Bethlehem a little insignificant and tiring that he still goes back and looks after sheep. I think many men would have told her father would've said to the brothers in the craft of the sheep, the great prophet Samuel came he didn't choose you you you you you you chose me. I'm going to be the king of Israel, don't expect me to look after the she Bible more important things that I am in the court of of Saul and played music to him. Let someone else look after the shape, but not David is a man after God's own heart, and he humbly waits on the Lord that can be difficult to do. Isn't it someone said me this this week in a certain circumstance that it's tough to wait on the Lord's timing and I said yes. I find that one of the most difficult things to do yet in the waiting room. One of the reasons I don't like going to the doctor the dentist that you have to wait. I don't like to wait on anyone but waiting on God's not quite sure what's going to happen in this holding pattern. David is anointed king. He doesn't know when he's actually going to become king, and he humbly waits that after he kills Goliath soul tells him to stay at the Kings court.

Humility is essential is in the if we're to be men and women after God's own heart. Look at first Samuel 18 � 18. This is after David kills Goliath and David and that Saul says I'm ill he promised you get one of my daughter's swivel kills the Goliath and so on. Then then he offers them at my lab that doesn't work out and then Michael.

Additionally, what could either, but when David is offered the king's daughter. David says the soul force on the 18 � 18 who am I and two of my relatives. My father's plan in Israel that I should be son-in-law to the king.

My, what would you offered me your daughter and I'm from a very very humble family and and Bethlehem and Jesse son such humility, Jesus said of John the Baptist that of those born of woman that is not risen a greater than John the Baptist with his with his John saved Jesus. He must put increase and I must decrease must become more important and I must become less important. You want to be important in a position of importance. You want people to think you're an important person is not humility is Peter says. First Peter five clothes yourself, all of you with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but dubs gives grace to the humble. Pride is at the center of our sin is that God hates pride so courageous, humility, God's choice. Third, consistent integrity. David was a man of integrity.

Now I know he wasn't perfect, but his integrity characterized his life with integrity.

Integrity is what we are when no one is looking. Integrity is a model he gives no amount of your training on how to get education him out of your talents.

It's a matter of character is a heart tissue is David Drive wrong sometimes as will see the perfect man, but these his heart is right. He has integrity. The integrity came from the knowledge of God and his love for God and David's life was shaped and molded.

I believe in the fields around Bethlehem while he was watching his father shape and his character was molded and refined during these times as they outlaw when he's living in caves, a diamonds cave and is attracting these these people become his mighty man in the house ended by Saul and all of these experiences is character is being shaped. We particularly see David's integrity don't way.

When these pursued by Saul and has an opportunity to kill Saul, would you do when you've got someone who wants to kill you, and you've got in your grasp. In part one of your mighty manner saying David Leavitt to meet up with my spear right through them only do it once I can get them with one job in my spirit and I can pin him to the ground and David says no no I don't need to is the Lord's anointed.

We can put our hand against the Lord's anointed integrity. David also and this amazes me.

David also doesn't appear to be a man in a honey he is anointed king. What is going to take years before finally becomes caring not like some of his own sons like Absalom and and abide by Joe who wanted to be king member.

You know the story of David. They tried to get rid of David that they conspired against David. They can't wait till her father dies or like Esau couldn't wait for the the inheritance for the blessing, but the flesh is in the flesh is always in a hurry. We talk this morning about the sinful passions that always urgent and David is a man of integrity about your character and mine consistent integrity, although it appears to us on a Sunday is you come, but has your heart, your image, but your character the Lord sees not as a menses man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. How was your heart.

Listen to Asaph as he writes in Psalm 78 about David Psalm 78 versus 70 and 72. The last two verses of Psalm 78. He says he chose that the Lord chose David to Sabin and took him from the sheepfold's from following the nursing use. He brought him to shepherd Jacob his people Israel his inheritance with upright heart.

He shepherded them and guided them with his skillful is a great combination is new to have a heart for God and also to have skill of hands, that's David. God takes him from the sheepfold's makes him to be the shepherd king, and he does it with great integrity and skill.

Finally, in contrast, the Saul, David is characterized by instant obedience. King Saul was disobedient.

He choses out against his immaturity to his impatience, remember he can wait he doesn't kill the Amalekites. He keeps the lady carrying a guide. He doesn't slaughter the flocks as he should have done, and then tries to blame the people and disobeys the commandments of the Lord. David is not like that but you notice for me read when I read acts 13 verse 22.

Paul's commentary and David is that he is a man after my heart says God who will do all my will.

So God selects David shepherd boy put him as Israel's greatest king so that the Lord our Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ comes from the genealogy of David.

He is the son of David is David's greater son. This can be said of David that he's there to do all my will. That's key is was called looking for you and for me instant and total obedience to do all his will will good at selective abrasions underway doing things that we like to do that we prefer to do what God wants to be a person after God's own heart is to be totally surrendered to God. Lord says Paul what will you have me to do, Lord, what your will and this time I have the offer to leave Charlotte to have another employment somewhere else. I'm thinking of doing this. I'm thinking of doing that all of these choices are coming to life.

Here is an opportunity to minister the Calvary church. Are we there that we in the position before God on our knees that we are ready to do his will. I said a few weeks ago when I was preaching. We all love the title Jesus. The name Jesus. It means Savior. What a wonderful name of Jesus, but it seems to me last unless that we refer to him as the New Testament writers do much more than just calling him Jesus the Lord Jesus or Jesus Christ Lord he is the Lord Jesus.

Jesus is my Savior. Yes to him. I am justified on plans on buying the Raven, but he is my Lord's day the young lady getting her baptized this evening quoted Romans 10 and nine if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe the Lord Jesus, whereby that of your bow to the Lordship of Christ in your life is going to be going to be a person after God's own heart. There must be total and instant obedience here is God's choice to militate integrity, obedience be like David, have courage to do what God calls you to do because your trust is in God, of integrity, have a heart of integrity develop skills in the areas where God has gifted you.

Be humble, be patient, love God.

Be faithful and be ready to respond with instant subregions.

When God calls you and you and I will be people after God's own heart. Father, we thank you for this wonderful example of David as we begin our study of him. He challenges us. He encourages us because he was like us.

He had the struggles but we thank you that he loved you.

We thank you for the record that we have of this remarkable man that you chose. Thank you for choosing us for saving us for making us your sons and daughters that we are servants of the living God. Perhaps some one here tonight is never yet bowed to the Lordship of Christ. Perhaps on here don't know Christ as their Savior. We pray father not only will your sins be forgiven, but their hearts will be hearts after God that we are ready. In fact, we are eager to do your will, and so glorify you make Calvary church be a church after your own heart. Male leaders be men and women after your own heart and each of us be people after your own heart. May you be glorified at Calvary. May you be glorified in our homes, glorified in our lives. We ask Christ