Song Numbers

“A Man After Mine Own Heart”

Acts 13:21-22 [21] And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. [22] And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

1 Sam. 13:14 [14] But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

“That is a mighty fine compliment for anyone at anytime in his life for God to so consider him…. David was highly regarded by the Highest of the High.” (James Boyd) WHAT MADE DAVID GREAT?

I. Early life experiences of David

Reared in a godly home He was taught to work, to love God – to respect the Law of God Any young person has a head start when he has godly parents

He remembered God 1 Sam. 17:37 [37] David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

1 Sam. 16:6-7 [6] And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.

[7] But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart

Eccl. 12:1 [1] Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them

Gal. 6:7-8 [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting

II. Other qualities that made him great

David had a great faith in God Heb. 11:32 [32] And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Ps. 23:1 [1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Ps. 27:1 [1] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Ps. 37:25 [25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

“When one of Israel’s kings was to be noted as a faithful man, it was said that he walked in the ways of David.”

David had respect for holy things 1 Sam. 24:10 [10] Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.

Today we see a lot of disrespect for the holy things of God: The church The Bible Morality The commands of God

The use of the Lord’s Day God’s authority Principles governing the home Marriage Authority of parents Worship, etc.

David was willing to sacrifice to God “Loyal service to God has its costs in every age” “Christianity is unpopular in the world today because it demands so much of the Christian.” To live for Christ calls for sacrifice – for inconvenience

Rom. 12:1 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service

David was a man of penitent heart He was capable of humbling himself and admitting, “I have sinned” 2 Sam. 12:13 [13] And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

All of us should be willing to repent as David did It is only when we recognize the guilt of sin that we seek God’s forgiveness