A man after God’s own heart is impulsive. Really??? Picture David on the hillside watching his father’s sheep and a lion comes out of nowhere and begins to run off with a lamb in his mouth. David doesn’t have time to think, or plan a strategy, he reacts. Impulsively he protects those he loves, and he loves the sheep because they belong to his father. Now picture David bringing lunch to his brothers and while he is there listening to a giant named Goliath screaming insults against God and God’s people. David’s impulse is not to let someone else handle it, or go back to his job, David’s heart for God causes him to act.
When you have a heart for God, you will impulsively give to someone in need, say a kind word to someone, do a good deed without even thinking about it, and spread the message of Jesus even without a 3 point sermon outline. A man after God’s own heart will impulsively love his wife, his children, and his neighbor as himself, without having to be asked, poked or prodded. The question you must ask yourself is, are you impulsively selfish, angry, loving, neighborly, etc. and when you answer that question it will allow you to see inside your heart.
In second Samuel David who should have been at war with his soldiers acted on several impulses that got him into trouble. He looked, he asked, he brought her to him, and he acted. When you aren’t focused on the spiritual battle you are in it’s easy to allow things to distract you from your purpose in life. David’s impulses weren’t at fault as much as his heart. Where is your heart today?
The second thing that defines a man after God’s own heart is his imperfections. David did it, hid it, and wouldn’t admit it. But when brought to light David repented and turned his life around. Instead of hiding from our imperfections we must recognize them and use them as learning tools. There are few things that make a bigger impact in a child’s life than a genuine apology from a father.
Finally we all know that even when we ask forgiveness it sometimes doesn’t change the fact that there are consequences. David is told that he will lose his son because of his unfaithfulness and he begs, prays, pleads, and fasts, but God’s answer was no. The last thing that defines a man after God’s own heart is that he is imperishable. David loved his newborn son, and did not want him to die but David also knew that this life is only the beginning of greater things. He and his son were both imperishable souls that would live forever. I will use David’s words to end this article.
2 Sam 12:22-23 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.
David’s response, yes even his impulse once he found out that his son was dead was to go to the house of the Lord and worship. This then is how to be a man after God’s own heart; 1) follow your Godly impulses, 2) correct and learn from your imperfections, and 3) remember that you are imperishable. Your body will die, but your soul will not.
