How could David be considered a man after God's own heart?

The period of the judges was now closed. The king superseded the judge, but any attempt to set aside Samuel as the prophet-mediator would be contempt of the supreme authority of Jehovah, and of the provision of sovereign grace when sin had brought the nation to ruin, its priesthood gone and the glory departed. The word of the Lord was explicit as to this. Saul was to tarry for Samuel till he should come to offer the sacrifices and show him what he should do. Though his office and his gift were unchallengeable, he was not independent to use them as he pleased. Samuel was the one link remaining of connection with God. It was given to him to draw near to the Lord on behalf of the people and to communicate His will — a type in this of Christ. Were they to have a king who should do his own will in worship and service? David was a man after God's own heart. Why? Not because he was a prophet, how far from it! But because the Lord had said of him, "he shall fulfil all My will" (Acts 13:22). Saul, alas, was not this. He did his own. A more serious lesson can hardly be read to those who are in office or have gift in the church, for none are in greater danger of trenching on the mediatorship and authority of Christ; but a great house has diverse vessels in it, so we read in 2 Tim. 2:20. The office may be honourable, and the gift undeniable; but what is the vessel, and for whose use? The test is needed, and it is a serious one.

In this latter part of the history of David we see the consequence of blessing, the result of faith, when used in the flesh and for himself. It is not that he was like Saul, beginning in the flesh, ending in the flesh, and not blest at all. It is a lovely picture of faith and humble, gracious walk, up to the time of his being king in his own house. The Lord had said, "I have found a man after mine own heart" (not that his conduct was so, but "a man after mine own heart "). He was a godly man with grace shining in a lovely way, and in the end there is rich blessing.

100 In this latter part of the history of David, we see the consequence of blessing, the result of faith, when used in the flesh and for himself. It is not that he was like Saul, beginning in the flesh, ending in the flesh, and not blest at all. It is a lovely picture of faith, a humble, gracious walk, up to the time of his being king in his own house. Jehovah had said, "I have found a man after my own heart" (not that his conduct was so, but "a man after mine own heart"); he was a godly man with grace shining in a lovely way, and in the end there is rich blessing.

100 In this latter part of the history of David, we see the consequence of blessing, the result of faith, when used in the flesh and for himself. It is not that he was like Saul, beginning in the flesh, ending in the flesh, and not blest at all. It is a lovely picture of faith, a humble, gracious walk, up to the time of his being king in his own house. Jehovah had said, "I have found a man after my own heart" (not that his conduct was so, but "a man after mine own heart"); he was a godly man with grace shining in a lovely way, and in the end there is rich blessing.

At first sight it has been to many a matter of surprise that the Lord should speak of David as "a man after Mine own heart," seeing he sinned so grievously, and gave such occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Yet, on the other hand, the Scriptures do show that he was characterized by many excellent features, of which one of the most striking comes to light in the early part of Psalm 132, where we are given a glimpse of him in his earliest days.

In spite of all the imperfections and failures that are to be found in the life of David, there were many lovely traits in him that bring Christ before us, traits that caused God to say, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will" (Acts 13:22). From the very first mention of David there was that which the Spirit of God viewed with pleasure, and at the close of his life his last words are pregnant with meaning as they point to Christ. Although his house did not answer to what God required of His king, yet his confidence was in the word of God, and his soul rested in the "everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure," that He had made with him; a covenant that did not depend on David's faithfulness, but on God's and that would be made sure in Christ risen from among the dead.

David is twice alluded to in Samuel's addresses to Saul when declaring to him his sin and consequent rejection by the Lord. He says to him, on the first occasion, "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" (1 Sam. 13:14). The expression, "A man after mine own heart," to which the ungodly have ever taken such exception, and which to them appears so obnoxious — even as Nathan prophesied they would, saying to the guilty though penitent king, "By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (2 Sam. 12:14); it was nevertheless God's own pronouncement as to David. He is twice so described by Him in the sacred Word. See Acts 13:22. This is what he was to God, as measured up by Him alone, without reference or allusion to others. In the mention of him the second time by Samuel he is described as in contrast with Saul: "The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou" (1 Sam. 15:28).

This great penitential Psalm, according to the inscription, was the outburst of confession and repentance of David when Nathan had uncovered his sin. Well has it been said, "So profound a conviction of sin, so deep and unfeigned a penitence, so true a confession, a heart so tender, so contrite, a desire so fervent for renewal, a trust so humble, so filial in the forgiving love of God, are such as we might surely expect from 'the man after God's own heart.'" We cannot enter into all the petitions and expressions of sorrow over sin which are found in this remarkable Psalm. It goes deep in confession and brokenness of spirit. All the saints of God know something of such deep soul exercises on account of sin.

After Saul had lost his kingdom for disobedience to the commandment of the Lord, David came to the throne of Israel. Although there was failure with David, it could be written concerning him, “David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that He commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5). This is a remarkable divine commendation. Although Psalm 119 is not ascribed to king David, it certainly portrays the thoughts of a man after the Lord’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), which David was.

This great thing is said of David, that he followed Jehovah with all his heart. There was power in Jehovah to engage utterly the hearts of his people. This became the standard by which later faithless kings were measured; "his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father". Jehovah possessed the heart of David whole, and this had its immediate outcome in worship. It was because they worshipped Baalim that the later kings were compared so adversely with David.