Jeremiah Kaaya Supporter Pastor at Springs of Power Church, Teacher by professional

The heart is the being or the person. That is; it is not to mean the literal heart but the spirit man. For without the heart or the spirit for that matter, one is not. For there can't be the literal man without the spirit. Yet the spirit man can be without the literal man.

With this then, it is not mistaken to conclude that when we mention the heart of God, it is in reference to God Himself. For God is His heart, just as everybody else is their heart. The heart of God though is clean, pure, loving, merciful, gracious. For God is only touched and moved by His own heart. God is not subject to or influenced by any external factor. God only listens to His heart. He says what He intends to say. When He loves, He intends to do so. God intends to do what He does. For it is all right from His heart. God unlike man is no pretender.

On the above then, for one to be referred to as having the heart after the heart of God is not to say that that person is as perfect as God. For no one else is good except God, not the angels, not even the heavens (Mark 10:18), (Luke 18:19), (Job 15:15). No human is without sin and no other being is as good. Only one man has lived in flesh without sin, and that is the man Jesus (Isaiah 53:9), (Luke 1:35), (John 19:4), (1Peter 2:22), (John 8:29). 

Was David's heart as perfect?
No. Not at all. David's heart was not as perfect and it was never the heart of God. David slept with Uriah's wife (2Samuel 11:2-5). He killed Uriah so as to hide his sin from the public (2Samuel 11:14-18). David counted people against God's will (2Samuel 24:1-16). It can't be that such scenarios depict what God's heart is. For a demonstration that God detested David's behaviors, He accompanied it with punishment to David. In the case of Uriah, God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David his sin of adultery and murder (2Samuel 12). If David's heart had been that of God, would God have done what David did? For God is all holy and all righteous.

What then is it to say that David's heart was after the heart of God?
It should be crucial that we put into perspective the language used here. Scripture doesn't say David's heart is the heart of God. Scripture is specific to say; David's heart is only after the heart of God. In this, David in his heart loved to do good, and he had the will, but lacked the energy to do so, just like everybody else (Romans 7:15-20). Yet David was a repentant man (2Samuel 12:13), (Psalms 51:10). God's anger is not on the sinner per Se, but on an unrepentant sinner. To repent implies you are not an accomplice in committing sin. You are simply being used by the devil. But if you do not repent, it is that you are closely an accomplice with the devil to commit sin. Do not cover up your sin, overcome your pride and speak it out and shame the devil. Such a heart is a heart which is after being like the heart of God. David had this type of heart.

But David could also have been said to have had a heart after the heart of God because he would dare. He was always fearless as long as he knew God was on his side. David killed Goliath (1Samuel 17). He testified that he had killed a lion and a bear (1Samuel 17:36). Not many people, many Christians inclusive would dare. To be brave is a character of God. That David was brave figures a man with a heart after the heart of God.

What is having the heart after the heart of God?
To have a heart after the heart of God implies that; if one admits their sin, and repent, their heart will be cleaned and purified to be like the heart of God. It means one is pursuing after the heart of God and will receive God's aid through His Son Jesus Christ. By this, you are after having your heart after the heart of God. Yet the point is that; this only comes by repentance. Jesus taught and scripture indeed affirms that only by repentance, can we be justified by God (2Chr 7:14), (2Cor 7:9-11), (1John 1:9), (Ezekiel 18:21-23), (Luke 13:3), (Acts 3:19), (Acts 17:30). For denial of sin is in itself sin

May 01 2015 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does it mean to have a heart after the heart of God?
1 Samuel 13:14

"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah hath appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee." ESV

Having a heart after the heart of God means aligning your inner desires, will, and character with God's, as exemplified by King David. It is not about perfection, but rather a sincere devotion to obeying Him, loving what He loves, grieving what burdens Him, and quickly repenting when falling short. 

It does not mean perfection; David committed grave sins, including adultery and murder. Instead, it describes a heart fully committed to pursuing God and doing His will.

Deep Spiritual Sensitivity: Being attuned to God's will and desiring to know His righteousness.

Obedience and Surrender: Prioritising God's agenda over personal desires, even when it is difficult.

Complete Devotion: A total surrender where there are no "hidden" or closed-off areas of life.

Repentance: A humble heart that acknowledges mistakes and turns back to God, rather than pretending to be perfect.

Love and Compassion: Mirroring God's mercy and love toward others, serving as a "fountain of grace". 

Love for God's Word: Delighting in and meditating on God's laws to shape one's thoughts and actions.

David's life was filled with privileges, triumphs, and tragedies. Yet, what attracts us to him above all else is what the prophet Samuel stated of David​—"he would prove to be Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart, "1 Samuel 13:14.

The greatest benefit from Second Samuel is to be found on the positive side, by heeding its many excellent examples of right conduct and action. David is a model in his exclusive devotion to God (7:22), his humility before God (7:18), his exalting of Jehovah's name (7:23, 26), his proper viewpoint in adversity (15:25), his sincere repentance of sin (12:13), his faithfulness to his promise (9:1, 7), his keeping balance under trial (16:11, 12), his consistent reliance on Jehovah (5:12, 20), and his deep respect for Jehovah's arrangements and appointments (1:11, 12). No wonder that David was called "a man agreeable to [Jehovah's] heart"!​—1 Sam. 13:14.

Sincere Repentance: When failing, a person after God's heart does not offer excuses but admits sin and seeks restoration with God. David's Psalm 51 is often cited as the ultimate example of this.

God is looking for men and women "after His own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). What does it mean to be a person after God's own heart? 

It means your life is in harmony with the Lord. What is important to Him is important to you. What burdens Him burdens you.

Meditating on Psalms like this one will help us to have a heart after the heart of God.

119: 15-16: "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report