One certainly cannot underestimate the role of the heart in godly religion when he reads what God has revealed through the scriptures. The fact is that God even knows our hearts. When Solomon prayed in dedicating the temple, he made a parenthetical statement in First Kings 8:39: “…for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.” Jeremiah stated, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer. 17:9-10). During the appointment of a successor to Judas Iscariot, the apostles prayed, “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men” (Acts 1:24). In addition, when Peter rebuked the sin of Simon of Samaria, he said, “…for thy heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:21). Therefore, when God describes the great king of Israel, named David, as “a man after mine own heart” (cf. Acts 13:22; 1 Sam. 13:14; 16:6-13), we ought to pay close attention. Why does the Bible describe David in such a way? Notice several reasons.
His heart appreciated the love of God. The love of God demonstrated in his life had a great effect on his life. Thus, he would write, “Show thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (Ps. 17:7). He appreciated the love of God. Do we appreciate the love of God in our lives (John 3:16; 1 John 4:19)?
His heart appreciated the goodness of God. We can see such demonstrated by the writings of his inspired heart as he wrote the following:
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way…O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing…I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good…Hear me, O Lord; for thy loving kindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies…Praise ye the Lord. O, give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. [Ps. 25:7-8; 34:8-10; 54:6; 69:16; 106:1]
As David, do we appreciate the goodness of God? Do we realize that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17)?
His heart expressed the proper attitude toward committed sins. The fact is that all of us sin (Rom. 3:10, 23). There is no question about such. In fact, the grace of God does not overlook sin in anyone. As a result, what is our attitude toward sin when we commit such? When David sinned, he expressed such attitudes of heart as godly sorrow, remorse, confession, repentance and other such virtues (cf. Ps. 32:1-5; 51:1-19). It might be difficult to swallow, but the fact is that God is pleased when sin breaks our hearts!
His heart appreciated the mercy and forgiveness of God. Psalm 51 expresses such statements in beautiful, poetic language. Do we appreciate the mercy and forgiveness of God (cf. Matt. 18:21-35)? The mercy and forgiveness of God should create within us a merciful and forgiving spirit (Matt. 6:14-15). David is quite an example in forgiving Saul and Shimei, just to name a few. Therefore, if these qualities of heart made David special, we can apply these very same qualities to our lives and be Christians after God’s own heart!