1 Samuel 13:14

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.

Acts 13:22

22 And when He had deposed him, He raised up David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully.

Basic observations about God’s evaluation of David:

• God has a “heart.” Some issues capture His favor, affection, and attention.

• Ultimately, God’s evaluation is what matters, not what man says.

• We can follow and capture the heart of God.

• One does not have to live a perfect life to follow the heart of God.

The Bible says that things in the past were written to encourage and instruct us.

Romans 15:3

3 For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me.

As we examine David’s life, four distinctive qualities emerge that define his life as a man after God’s heart.

To earnestly follow the heart of God we must:

1. DECLARE GOD’S PRAISE

Hebrew 13:15

15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

As we examine David’s life, four distinctive qualities emerge that define his life as a man after God’s heart.

To earnestly follow the heart of God we must:

1. DECLARE GOD’S PRAISE

2. DEPEND ON GOD’S PROVISION

1 Sam. 30: 3-8

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

1 Sam. 30: 3-8

6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

As we examine David’s life, four distinctive qualities emerge that define his life as a man after God’s heart.

To earnestly follow the heart of God we must:

1. DECLARE GOD’S PRAISE

2. DEPEND ON GOD’S PROVISION

As we examine David’s life, four distinctive qualities emerge that define his life as a man after God’s heart.

To earnestly follow the heart of God we must:

1. DECLARE GOD’S PRAISE

2. DEPEND ON GOD’S PROVISION

3. DESIRE GOD’S PRESENCE

Psalm 119 describes his personal desire to study the Scriptures, to meditate upon God’s word, and to feast upon the honey contained in holy precepts.

As we examine David’s life, four distinctive qualities emerge that define his life as a man after God’s heart.

To earnestly follow the heart of God we must:

1. DECLARE GOD’S PRAISE

2. DEPEND ON GOD’S PROVISION

3. DESIRE GOD’S PRESENCE

4. DISPLAY GOD’S POWER

Psalm 90:17 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

David captured the heart of God because he expected great things from God by attempting great things for God.

David had many flaws, but he also had amazing faith that pleased God. The beautiful description of David as a man after God’s heart is not limited to a teenage giant-killer.

This divine commendation is available to all who:

• declare God’s praise,

• depend on God’s provision,

• desire God’s presence,

• and display God’s power.