Man after God's heart

Man after God's heart

1 Sam. 13:14

The setting of our study today is Israel in a time of National peril. Today we find ourselves in much the same danger. Perhaps we can learn from David and Israel. The nation had rejected God's leadership, pleading with Samuel to give them a king like the other nations around them. The people had followed their man, Saul, but he was a disappointment. Saul was an imposter.. In Genesis 49:8-10 through Joseph God had predicted that the lawgiver would be from the tribe of Judah until Jesus would come, which also included Jesus. Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul also rejected God's plan and entered into the priest's service offering the burnt offering.

How did God react to this? He replaced the king. In our text we read that God told Saul that his kingdom would not continue. God further stated that He had sought for a man after His own heart. Such a man He would make captain over His people.

We shall have a better king. God gave Israel a better king, a man after God's own heart. His name was David. David had a passion for God. See it revealed in Ps. 42:1, 2. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?" O that our souls would so pant after God. David will one day reign again. It is prophesied in Ezekiel 37:24. "And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them". This is not Christ and His church. It is the twelve tribes of Israel brought again to unity.  Jesus confirmed that also in Luke 1:31-33 where we are told that the Lord God shall give unto Christ the throne of His father David. That is not His heavenly Father; it is His father, David.