Focus: A Man After God's Heart

Text: 1Sam.13:14

"The LORD hath sought him A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART…"

The difference between Saul and David is to be found around God. Saul thought less of God while David was thoughtful of God, and God would not have a man sit on a sacred throne who is unmindful of Him. Every throne on earth is held in trust by men on God's behalf. It is written of Solomon that he "sat on the throne of the LORD as king…" (1Chron.29:23). It is the Lord's throne, but Solomon sat on it after his father, David. 

Human thrones are subject to the throne of Heaven, and whoever sits on it must have a heart for God. God describes David as "a man after his own heart." That means that David was passionate about what God was passionate about. His heart was beating after God. He longed for God. He was after what was pleasing to God. Like another has said, David was 'a God-chaser.' David was a man who passionately pursued or chased after God and complied with His dictates. God wants you to be that man today - "a man after his own heart." God will always allow such a man to sit on His throne. Indeed God rules on earth through such a man. God is topmost priority for such a man. Such a man governs with the fear of God. It is a great disaster to have a man sit on a throne who has no room for God in his life.

God knows you absolutely and wants you to know Him progressively. In Ex.3:4, we read, "God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, MOSES, MOSES." From the Burning Bush God knew and called Moses by name. Moses in that moment experienced God supernaturally. God sovereignly entered Moses' space and settled things from there. But in Ex.3:13, we read of Moses asking, "What is his name? what shall I say unto them?" God knew Moses, but Moses was yet to know God. 

God knows you, but do you know God?

Joseph is a good illustration of this important truth. Genesis 42:8 says, "And Joseph KNEW his brethren, but they KNEW NOT him." Again, we read in verse 23, "And they KNEW NOT that Joseph UNDERSTOOD them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter." Joseph knew his brothers and spoke a different language, but his brothers were completely unaware of who he was, and to understand him, Joseph had to have an interpreter. In Genesis 45:1, we read, "And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren." For his brothers to know him, Joseph had to reveal himself to them. In this verse of Scripture, Joseph makes himself known to his brothers. 

God wants to unveil Himself to you. Are you ready to progress in your knowledge of Christ? Do you long to advance in knowing the Lord? The highest knowledge in the universe is the knowledge of God through Christ, and only the Spirit of God imparts it.

Luke writes, "But their eyes were holden that they should not know him" (Lk.24:16). The resurrected Christ was with two of His disciples, but they could not figure out who He was. He spoke with them, but they failed to pick or discern His voice. But in verses 31 and 35, we read, "And their eyes were opened, and THEY KNEW HIM; and he vanished out of their sight… And they told what things were done in the way, and HOW HE WAS KNOWN OF THEM in breaking of bread." They moved from the point of not knowing to the place of cognizance, certainty and conviction. You can be that man or woman that knows God and that is passionate about Him. You can be another David today!

Paul is another man who was totally into Christ and totally sold out for God. He says, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I FOLLOW AFTER, if that I may APPREHEND that for which also I am APPREHENDED of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have APPREHENDED: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…" (Phil.3:12,13). The words "follow after" mean 'to chase or pursue after.' David and Paul were passionate about God. Their hearts were hungry for more of God. They were men after God's own heart. They occupied 'thrones' for God and discharged their sacred responsibilities in the fear of God.

It is your turn and time to do the same. It is your turn and time to know the One who has known you all along. The One who is greater than Joseph is here, and He wants to reveal Himself to you. Jesus is our big brother. He wants to speak to you in the language that you understand. He wants not only to unveil His heart to you, but also to plant His own heart in yours.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter