The reason why David was a man after God's own heart.

David was a fascinating character in the Bible. At a young age God has already chosen him to be king over His people Israel. He was the only person in the Bible whom God declared was a man after God's own heart.

For God to say that David was a man after His own heart, it means that David knew what was in God's heart, in other words, he knew what God's desires was, and that he was actively seeking God's heart, and seeking to accomplish what God desires.

David made God's desires his own desires.

God so pleased with David, that it was stated in the Bible that God actually liked him.

Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all, the house of my father to be king over Israel forever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: (1 Chronicles 28:4 KJV)

And God did not stop there!

Not only was God pleased with David, God was pleased to bless him. When we read the story of David in the bible, we can't help but notice that David's whole life was so filled with success, so successful that even the king of that day, King Saul was afraid of him. (1 Samuel 18:14-15)

• God granted him great wealth and prosperity.
• God gave him wisdom beyond that of his enemies (Psalm 119:98)
• God gave him victory over his enemies and greatly increased the boundaries of his kingdom
• God protected him from all his enemies
• He had favour with many other other people. Some of his friends loved him so much that they were even willing to risk their lives to get David a drink of water (1 Chronicles 11:15-19)
• "In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him" (1 Samuel 18:14)
• This is a recurring theme in his story: "The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went" (2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 17:6, 13)
• God was pleased to make a covenant with David, a covenant which is everlasting and irrevocable, that his throne will be secure through all generations. This covenant was known and referred to as "the sure mercies of David". (Isaiah 55:3, Acts 13:34)

It seemed that David's whole life has been marked out for God's blessings!

But, what was the main reason why David was a man after God's own heart? What was the main attribute that has set him apart from all other great heroes of the Bible?

The answer to this is really a great revelation for myself. I have been meditating on these truths for the past few days, it was so exciting... I have decided that this will be my personal theme and goal for the year 2008 and beyond.

I have purposed in my heart that I want to be like David, to be a man after God's very own heart.

In my next post: THE REASON.