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                     "A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART"  
  
                           1 Samuel 13:13-14   
  
INTRODUCTION  
  
1. In Paul's sermon at Antioch, in which he briefly recounts the   
   history of Israel, he refers to the statement made by God concerning  
   David:  
  
   "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who  
   will do all My will." - Ac 13:22  (cf. 1 Sam 13:13-14 )  
  
2. This beautiful compliment, "a man after My own heart", is one that  
   should characterize every person who wears the name of Christ  
   a. For David was not only the ancestor of Christ according to the   
      flesh...  
   b. But he possessed many of the attitudes that:  
      1) Were later perfected by Christ  
      2) Should characterize all those who are disciples of Christ  
  
3. In this study we shall...  
   a. Consider some of these attitudes that David had  
   b. See the similarities between his attitudes and those of Christ  
   c. And encourage all who are Christians to have the same so that we   
      too might be people "after God's own heart"  
  
[We begin, then, by noticing that...]  
  
I. DAVID LOVED THE WORD OF GOD  
  
   A. "OH, HOW I LOVE YOUR LAW!" - Psa 119:97   
      1. In this psalm, if not written by David it certainly expresses   
         his sentiment found elsewhere, we find one who has a great   
         love for God's Word - cf. Psa 119:47-48   
      2. This love for God's Word is due to the fact that...  
         a. It protects him from sin - Psa 119:11   
         b. It revives him in affliction - Psa 119:50   
         c. It gives him great peace of mind - Psa 119:165   
  
   B. JESUS LOVED THE WORD OF GOD...  
      1. As is evident from His frequent quotation of it  
      2. Especially at the time of His temptation - Mt 4:4 ,7,10  
  
   C. HOW IS OUR LOVE FOR THE WORD OF GOD?  
      1. Do we "hide" it in our heart?  
      2. Do we find it to be a source of comfort in times of   
         affliction?  
      3. Does it give us peace of mind?  
      4. If not, we should give heed to the instructions of David in  
         Psa 1:1-3   
         a. Learn to delight in the Word  
         b. Learn to meditate upon it daily  
         -- Then we will be truly "blessed"!  
  
[We next see that...]  
  
II. DAVID LOVED TO PRAY  
  
   A. "I WILL CALL UPON HIM AS LONG AS I LIVE" - Psa 116:1-2   
      1. His love for prayer was based upon the fact God had answered   
         him before - Psa 116:1-2   
      2. It was based upon the fact that God had greatly blessed him   
         - Psa 116:12-13   
      3. It was based upon the fact that prayer brought God close to   
         him - Psa 145:18   
  
   B. JESUS WAS ALSO A MAN OF PRAYER...  
      1. He made it a point to often slip away to pray privately - Lk 5:16  
           
      2. In times of greatest trial, Jesus resorted to prayer...  
         a. At Gethsemane - Mt 26:36-44   
         b. On the cross:  
            1) "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they   
               do." - Lk 23:34   
            2) "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" - Mt 27:46   
            3) "Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit." - Lk 23:46   
                 
  
   C. HOW IS OUR LOVE FOR PRAYER?  
      1. Have we found it to be a source of peace "which surpasses all   
         understanding"? - Ph 4:6-7   
      2. Do we "pray without ceasing"? - 1 Th 5:17   
      3. If not, then let David instruct us to depend upon prayer for   
         our very preservation - Psa 32:6-7   
  
[In addition to the Word of God and prayer...]  
  
III. DAVID LOVED TO PRAISE GOD  
  
   A. "SEVEN TIMES A DAY I PRAISE YOU" - Psa 119:164   
      1. He praised God because of His righteous judgments  
      2. He praised God because of His greatness and lovingkindness   
         - Psa 95:1-7   
      3. And he was determined to sing praises as long as he lived   
         - Psa 104:33   
  
   B. JESUS ALSO LOVED TO PRAISE GOD...  
      1. As He did on one occasion publicly in prayer - cf. Mt 11:25-26   
      2. As He did with his disciples in song - cf. Mt 26:30   
  
   C. DO WE LOVE TO PRAISE GOD?  
      1. Do we delight in singing praises to God in song?  
      2. Do we take time to praise God in our prayers?  
      3. Once again, David has words to encourage us in this activity   
         - Psa 147:1   
      -- Thus it is becoming for those who profess to be children of   
         God to praise their Heavenly Father!  
  
[We note also that...]  
  
IV. DAVID LOVED UNITY AMONG BRETHREN  
  
   A. "BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS..." - Psa 133:1   
      1. David knew the value of good friendship and unity, as   
         exemplified in the relationship he had with Jonathan - 1 Sam 18:1  
           
      2. He also knew the terrible pain of division within a family   
         (cf. his sons, Amnon and Absalom - 2 Sam 13)  
  
   B. JESUS LOVED UNITY ALSO...  
      1. He prayed diligently that His disciples might be one - Jn 17:  
         20-23  
      2. He died on the cross that there might be unity - Ep 2:13-16   
  
   C. DO WE LOVE UNITY ENOUGH TO PAY THE PRICE?  
      1. By diligently displaying the proper attitudes necessary to   
         preserve the unity Christ has accomplished through His death?   
         - cf. Ep 4:1-3   
      2. By marking those who needlessly cause division? - Ro 16:17   
  
[Finally, we note that...]  
  
V. DAVID HATED EVERY FALSE WAY  
  
   A. "I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY" - Psa 119:104   
      1. His hatred was based upon his understanding of God's precepts  
         - cf. Psa 119:104   
      2. His hatred affected his selection of activities and friends  
         - cf. Psa 101:3-4 ,6-7  
  
   B. JESUS ALSO HATED ERROR AND FALSE WAYS...  
      1. As manifested in His driving the moneychangers out of the   
         temple - Mt 21:12-13   
      2. As manifested in His denunciation of the hypocritical   
         Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers - cf. Mt 23:13-36   
  
   C. WHAT IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD FALSE WAYS?  
      1. Are we soft or compromising?  
      2. Or do we realize that we are involved in a "battle" over the   
         souls of men, and are not to think lightly of that which is   
         false? - cf. 2 Co 10:3-5   
      3. While we are to love the sinner, we must ever hate the sin!  
  
CONCLUSION  
  
1. In closing, we note that it was said concerning David that he was  
   one "...who will do all My  will." - Ac 13:22   
   a. Because he was "a man after God's own heart" and had all these  
      attributes we have considered in this lesson...  
   b. God was confident that David would do ALL that God asked of him  
  
2. Thus it requires all of the attributes to motivate one to be  
   faithful to all that God may ask  
   a. We have seen where Jesus possessed them, and He was certainly  
      motivated to do the Father's will - cf. Jn 4:34 ; Mt 26:42   
   b. How about us?  Are we motivated to do ALL of God's will?  
  
   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the  
   kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is  
   in heaven. (Mt 7:21 )  

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