Why was David considered "a man after God's own heart"? CQ Bible 101
Although Saul, King over Israel, had been chosen and appointed by God, he repeatedly fell victim to pride and other defects of character. And so, in 1 Samuel we read that God decided to replace him:
(1Sam 13:14) 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.
If you’re familiar with this story, you’ll know that it was David whom God had chosen. David, who faced Goliath, who soothed King Saul with his music, who befriended Saul’s son Jonathan; and yet the same David who desired Bathsheba, actively attempted to cover this up, and eventually arranged to have her husband die to cover David’s wrongdoing.
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How is all of this possible with someone described as “a man after God’s own heart”?
There are two key aspects that we’ll highlight today, beginning with Actively Seeking the Lord’s Will.
One of the most obvious aspects of this is the fact that after David was selected by God, he waited for approximately 15 years before actually taking the throne in Judah; and an additional 7 1/2 years before reigning over Israel as a whole! That is not the patience of an ordinary individual who has been promised power. Furthermore, he evaded numerous attacks on his life from Saul and yet he refused to raise a hand against Saul, because Saul had been chosen by God.
It didn’t matter to David that God had decided to replace Saul – he still believed it was proper to wait until God was ready to place him on the throne. Then, in 1 Sam. 26, there is a second example of David sparing Saul’s life, despite the urging of those closest to him. These are not the actions of someone who is motivated primarily by fleshly concerns.
In fact, as we read throughout the books of Samuel, we find numerous examples of David seeking guidance from the Lord:
[1Sa 23:1-4 ] Then they told David, saying, "Behold, the Philistines are
