AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART

What child of God would not want this testimony, and yet, only one man in the Bible had it. The man was David. He was a man after God's own heart. What did David have that was so extraordinary?

The answer to this question is given in this latest teaching, "A Man After God's Own Heart." We are studying the life and heart of David so that we might know what it takes to have this testimony from God and to be a people after God's own heart.

We begin this lesson in Acts 13:22 where the Father is quoted saying, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after God's own heart." So what made David so special in God's eyes?

One of the first characteristics we notice about David is that he was valiant. Valor is courage, being brave. When people have valor, they will see an injustice being done and try to stop it, regardless of the consequences. They simply act upon their sense of truth and justice. Of course, "Discretion is the better part of valor," but sometimes it is necessary to fight. Valor is not getting in the flesh and being easily offended; that is being immature or carnal. Valor is fighting a just cause.

David was also a man of faith. Faith calls those things which be not as though they were; God does that. David did that, too. When David heard the giant Goliath challenging the Children of Israel, he knew that the giant must be stopped, and David immediately rose to the fight. He didn't take into account his youthful body or the size of the giant; he just believed on his God. He said in I Sam. 17:37, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Then David put the corresponding action to his confession; he picked up five stones (giving God something to work with) and he slung one at the giant. He did this by faith because in the natural, a rock will not kill a man, especially a giant. God used that stone to deliver the children of Israel that day, and He was able to do so because David dared to believe Him.

David also was a man of honor. In all the many times that Saul mistreated him and tried to kill him without cause, David never once dishonored him. David recognized that God had anointed Saul to sit as king over the people, and he dared not touch the Lord's anointed. When David allowed Saul to live when he had the opportunity to kill him, his enemy, he chose not to. He did cut a piece of his robe to show that he could have killed him had he desired to. David had this to say later, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing that he is the Lord's anointed." David felt bad for cutting his robe, and he was repentant. He recognized that the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable, and that only God could touch Saul.

Unfortunately, this is as far as we have gotten on this lesson. There is more exciting insight to be learned in this lesson so look for the next edition of the Latter Rain Update. It will bless you.