Many people have heard that David was “a man after God’s own heart.” Many also realize that we, too, should be striving to become persons after God’s own heart. But just what does that really mean? How would you know if you are—or are not? What can you do to become a person after God’s own heart? What qualities do you need to develop, and just why is this important for Christians today? In this article we will explore the subject of becoming a person after God’s own heart, and will learn why this is a subject that Christians need to understand.
A Vital Subject
Over the years we have been encouraged to draw closer to God. We have also been admonished of the need to become more unified as a Church. More recently, we have been asked to beseech God to pour out more of His Holy Spirit on His Church. There is a crucial common factor that underlies all three of these important endeavors. The crucial reason we strive to draw closer to God is so that we can become more like God in thought, word and deed. In essence, we draw closer to God so that we can become people after God’s own heart! There is also a crucial key to becoming more unified as a Church—having a common focus (see 1 Corinthians 1:10). If we are each focused on becoming a person after God’s own heart—focused on what is important to God—we will become more unified as a Church. There is also a crucial factor in receiving more of God’s Holy Spirit. We are told that God gives His Spirit “to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). If we are all striving to obey the commandments of God, and we follow His instructions diligently, we will be meeting the fundamental prerequisite for receiving more of His Spirit. Becoming a person after God’s own heart is not just a nice idea; it is a vital necessity for anyone who is serious about being a real Christian and walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ!
Origin of the Concept
It is instructive to notice that the term “a man after God’s own heart” did not originate with David, but with Saul! It was not originally used as a compliment, but in an admonition. The Israelites wanted a physical leader as their king, like the nations around them, so God chose for them a man with impressive physical qualities. Saul was tall, handsome, from a good family and initially humble (see 1 Samuel 9:1–2; 10:21–27). However, when Saul became presumptuous and took liberties with God’s instruction, he lost favor with God and lost his kingship (1 Samuel 13). Samuel admonished Saul: “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God… now your kingdom shall not continue” (1 Samuel 13:13–14). Samuel told Saul that he was removed because “the Lord has sought for himself a man after His own heart” (v. 14). It was important to God that the leader of His chosen people was a person who shared His perspective and who would keep His commandments.
God’s instructions to Samuel in choosing Saul’s replacement are also instructive. While reviewing the sons of Jesse as possible candidates for the kingship of Israel, Samuel was told: “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature… for the Lord does not see as a man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Although David was good-looking (16:12), he was selected because he had more important qualities that God wanted in a leader. God chose David because: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22). Anyone who aspires to be a leader in the kingdom of God must realize that we will each be tested to see if we are really people after God’s own heart who will keep His commandments (Exodus 16:4; Proverbs 17:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). But what other qualities did David have that made him a man after God’s own heart? And do women need to develop those same qualities?
David’s Heart
Psalm 119 gives us some remarkable insights into the mind of David, which enable us to understand the priorities and perspectives that gave him favor with God. Perhaps David’s most outstanding quality was that he loved God’s law and spent time studying it. He writes: “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (119:16), and: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (119:97). Many argue that the law has been done away and that we are no longer under the law, but under grace! Many today seldom take time to really study the word of God, or if they do study, they do so to find some way around what it plainly says. David had a totally different orientation. You might ask yourself, what is your attitude toward the law of God? Is it like David’s?
David also valued God’s law because he understood how important it was in his personal life and in his role as a leader. He realized that living according to the laws of God would lead to blessings (119:1–2), keep him from sinning and making mistakes (119:11, 110), make him wiser than his enemies (119:98), provide a guide for his life and for making decisions (119:106) and bring real peace of mind (119:165). David realized that the word of God contained revealed truth and was true in its entirety (119:142, 151, 160). How different this attitude is from those who assert that the commandments are out of date and no longer applicable to us today, and that biblical ideas and instructions are irrelevant concerning how we live our lives. How do you view the laws of God?
David was teachable. He writes, “teach me Your statutes… open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law… make me understand the way of your precepts… give me understanding, and I shall keep your law (119:12, 18, 27, 34). What a wonderful attitude, and what a contrast to the current notion that “we don’t need a church or a ministry to teach us; we can do it ourselves.” David was also repentant (Psalm 51). He was willing to admit when he was wrong, without making endless excuses or blaming others for his mistakes or problems. In spite of the challenges that David faced in his life, he was positive and remained focused on accomplishing God’s plan and purpose even during trials. Notice his prayer, “purge me with hyssop… restore to me the joy of Your salvation… then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You” (Psalm 51:7–13). These attitudes made David a man after God’s own heart. Do you have these same attitudes? Could you develop these attitudes?
Jesus’ Example
Jesus Christ was obviously a man after God’s own heart. Jesus plainly stated: “I and My father are one” (John 10:30; 17:11, 20–24). He had the same perspective and outlook as the Father. They were on the same wavelength. How different this is from comments today that assert: “I know what the Bible says (or the Church teaches), but here is what I think.” Jesus did not promote His own theories and ideas. He said: “I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him… I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things… I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:26–29). This kind of attitude is the foundation for real unity and harmony. It does not foster division in any way. Those who strive to develop this attitude are people after God’s own heart.
We can see from a number of situations that Jesus was also humble and obedient. He had no problem being in a subordinate position. He was subject to His physical parents (Luke 2:51) according to the commandment (Exodus 20:12). He was subject to His heavenly Father and sought to do the will of the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 5:30; 6:38). He was not an individualist who insisted on doing things His own way. He was deeply impressed with a Roman officer’s respect for authority (Luke 7:1–10). How different this is from attitudes that are so prevalent in the Church and society today. Jesus would have no problem following the New Testament instructions for women to be subject to their husbands, for children to obey their parents, for servants to respect their masters (Ephesians 5:21–6:9; 1 Peter 2–3), for Church members to respect their leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13) or that elders need to be examples to their flocks (1 Peter 5:1–5)—because He knew what it was like to be in these situations!
But Jesus possessed additional qualities that made Him a man after God’s own heart. Jesus had compassion (Matthew 9:36; Mark 8:2), which is also an attribute of the Father (Psalm 86:15). He healed people because he cared about others. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He knew the trials the future held for His countrymen (see Matthew 23:37; Luke 19:41–44). Jesus was also mission oriented. He knew and understood the plan of God and His role in that plan. From His youth He knew He must be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49). Throughout His ministry, He remained focused and maintained His sense of urgency (John 4:34; 9:4). Jesus also persevered. He did not quit when things got difficult! Facing the reality of His coming crucifixion, He determined to keep going (Matthew 26:39), and at the close of His earthly ministry He was able to say to His Father: “I have finished the work which You gave Me to do” (John 17:4). Jesus fulfilled His commitments, He stayed the course and He finished the race, because He was a man after God’s own heart. Our goal must be to do the same.
People after God’s Heart
But the story does not stop with David and Jesus. The Old Testament describes a number of individuals who possessed many of the same qualities that made them persons after God’s own heart. Abraham is called “the friend of God” because he believed and obeyed God (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23). God blessed Abraham because of his obedience and his efforts to lead his household “in the way of the Lord” (Genesis 18:17–19). Moses was a powerful instrument in God’s hands because, even though he was reared as the son of the Pharaoh of Egypt, “Moses was very humble [teachable], more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is portrayed as a righteous woman, who poured out her soul to God and believed God would answer her request (1 Samuel 1). When her request for a son was granted, she unselfishly gave that son back to God and praised God with a prayer that sounds like a Psalm of David (1 Samuel 2). Daniel and his companions Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego are noted for their obedience to God and their determination not to compromise His laws even under the threat of death (see Daniel 1, 3, 6).
The New Testament also has its list of individuals who were persons after God’s own heart. Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). They must have been very dedicated and competent parents because Jesus said of their son, “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told by an angel: “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women… for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:28–30). We begin to understand why Mary found favor with God when we read her prayer (Luke 1:47–55). Mary knew Scripture, and her prayer cites 12 different Old Testament passages. Mary was not a superficial person, but thought deeply about what she heard and saw, and was willing to wait to see the will of God (Luke 2:19, 51). Another Mary, the sister of Martha, was commended by Jesus for not letting routine physical duties distract her from more important spiritual concerns. Because Mary was focused on what was important to God, Jesus said: “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38–42).
Peter, James, John, Paul and the other Apostles and disciples also appear to be persons after God’s own heart because they were chosen and used to build the New Testament Church. Jesus prayed to God for His chosen disciples, “that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:11). Jesus’ prayer also included those who are being called today: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me” (John 17:20–21). It is God’s desire that we become persons after His own heart (see Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Isaiah 66:2).
Seven Basic Qualities
But what do we do to become people after God’s own heart? In summary, as we have seen, we need to:
- Develop a love for God’s law. Spend time studying and learning to apply the laws of God (2 Timothy 2:15). David delighted in learning from the word of God, because he knew how relevant it was to living a successful and meaningful life. We do what we enjoy. Do you enjoy being taught from God’s word? Drinking deeply of God’s word will help us become people after God’s own heart.
- Pray, fast and meditate regularly. David and Daniel prayed at least three times a day (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10). Jesus prayed regularly for considerable periods of time over important issues (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12–13). Fasting keeps us humble and reminds us how insignificant we really are and how much we need not only physical nourishment, but also the spiritual nourishment that comes from God. Meditating on the meaning of God’s word allows God to work with our minds and guide our thoughts in the direction of what is important to Him (Isaiah 55:8–9). Keep a record of how much time you spend in prayer, study and meditation. Strive to improve on how you use your time.
- Determine to obey God, and expect resistance. Abraham, Daniel, Jesus Christ and others were rewarded for their determination to follow God’s laws, and for their unwillingness to compromise with the truth they understood. The Scriptures state that God will pour out His Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). It is God’s Spirit that enables us to become people after God’s own heart.
- Develop real compassion for others, and be prepared to suffer a bit in the process. Jesus Christ came to this earth to suffer and die for mankind because of His love for human beings created in the image of God (John 3:16). In order to be effective rulers in the kingdom of God, we will have to understand the needs and feelings of those we will serve. God cares about others—and so must we.
- Learn to forgive. While God is just, He is also forgiving (Psalm 103:3). Jesus admonished His disciples that if one wants to be forgiven, one must also forgive (Matthew 6:14–15). Forgiveness involves not only letting go of past offenses, but also being willing to reconcile and rebuild relationships. In learning to do this, we will become persons after God’s own heart.
- Stay focused on the “Big Picture.” Jesus’ ministry centered on preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15), warning the world of a coming judgment (Mark 13) and feeding the flock of God (John 21:15–17). The Apostles continued that work (Matthew 10:7–8; Acts 28:23–31). Our job is the same today (Matthew 10:23; 28:19–20). A person after God’s own heart will focus on that same goal.
- Never quit! Jesus finished the work He was given to do. He also warned that “no one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). By learning to keep our commitments, and persevering when things get difficult, we become individuals after God’s own heart.
As Christians, we are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and to learn to live by every word of God. Jesus was on the same wavelength as His Father—He was a man after God’s own heart. The examples of Abraham, Moses, David, Hannah and many others are recorded in Scripture as examples for us to follow. We must learn from those examples and strive to become people after God’s own heart, so we can be in His kingdom—because this is the real purpose for human existence.