A Man After God’s Heart

By Danny Saavedra

“For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” – John 7:42 (NLT)

Have you ever just had a moment that changed your life forever? The kind of thing where one minute, you’re just minding your own business, and the next, your world has been flipped, turned upside down? That’s exactly what happened to David. 

It’s a very interesting story. The Israelites were no longer happy being set apart and different from the other nations. They asked Samuel for a king like all the other nations had. This upset Samuel. He took it as a rejection. But God said, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7 NASB). 

So God appointed Saul, who the Bible calls the most handsome man in Israel; a tall, strong figure, a man’s man, a pillar of physical perfection. But soon, Saul showed that his heart did not match his appearance. He needed to be replaced. So, God sent Samuel again to find the new king. 

Samuel happened upon the house of Jesse, who presented seven of his sons to Samuel. God didn’t choose any of them. But it just so happened that Jesse had one more son—David, his youngest—who was out tending to the sheep in the field. When David arrived, immediately the Lord confirmed to Samuel that this was the one. 

Why him? What made David so special out of all the men in Israel, or even out of Jesse’s other sons, whom Samuel was very impressed by. Why? 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV), one of the most famous verses in Scripture, tells us: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

You see, David wasn’t just appointed, he was anointed by God! His life was changed in one instant because God saw his heart. In Acts 13, Paul tells us that David was a man after God’s own heart, one who would trust in the Lord, who would listen to God’s voice and obey. In David, we see humility, devotion, faithfulness, and a deep love for the Lord. He wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t need to be. 

David wasn’t God’s anointed because he did all the right things; he definitely didn’t. It was because he sought after God with his whole heart, even when he fell short. It wasn’t his virtue, bravery, or wisdom that made God choose him. And it wasn’t by his might that he was able to conquer Goliath. Rather, it was because he believed “in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45 NIV). 

Before the end of his life, God made David a promise; an ancient promise made to Abraham and reaffirmed to David in 2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV): "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever." In Matthew 1:23 (NLT), we’re given the name by which this branch of David’s tree would be called: “Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.’”

Today, people around the world have the opportunity to experience a moment like David did, a moment that changes their destiny and turns their world upside down as they believe in the name of Immanuel—God with us, Jesus Christ, the LORD Almighty! For those who have received Him, rejoice! Praise God today for the gift of salvation through Jesus. And pray for those who have not yet experienced this amazing grace!