Gò0dNews for Men
A Man After God’s Own Heart
“H
by Wayne Williams
e raised up David to be their king, of whom
and God loves most those who love Him and “keep His
he testified and said, ‘I have found in David
commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9; Proverbs 8:17).
the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who
will do all my will’” (Acts 13:22). There is a lot of speculation about why the expression,
A young Bible Studies major was asked to speak at a local church close to the Bible school he was attending. It was a relatively small congregation with a long and
“a man after my [God’s] heart,” is ascribed to the notable
upstanding history in the community. The membership,
king of Israel, David. Ron Edmondson, Senior Pastor
though mostly elderly, was fortunate to have a few young
of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky,
families in attendance who had requested of the pulpit
endeavors to help us with this construct by listing character
committee the young man’s services. His excitement to
traits that David likely possessed.
preach coupled with his academic training were clearly on display as he preached what he thought was a wellwritten sermon full of theological jargon and “highfluting words.” It was reported that following the worship service, two elderly women were overheard in the hallway just outside the church sanctuary sharing their personal observations of the young man’s presentation. One of the elderly ladies, a charter member, stated her views and said to the other, “The young man is noticeably well-read, but I am concerned that it appeared he tried too hard to impress and fell short to express himself. And I may not know what preaching is, but I know what preaching ain’t!” Opposite of the things that God loves, we read in
With thoughtful attention to the word of God,
Proverbs 6:16-19 those things that God hates. And, too, we
Edmondson seeks to provide a biblical account from the
are commanded to “Love not the world, neither the things
Book of Psalms that best describes the heart of David.
that are in the world” (1 John 2:15).
Among the descriptions are David’s humility (Psalm 62:9),
Friend, I am inclined to believe that David was “a man
reverence (Psalm 18:3), devotion (Psalm 4:7), repentance,
whose heart is like God’s heart” because David loved the
(Psalm 25:11), and love (Psalm 18:1). Love? Humm?
things that God loved and was “willing to do what God
And what are some of the things that God loves? Great question! Since childhood, many of us were compelled to
desired of him.” In summation, we should love the things that God loves,
memorize that “God so loved the world (people)…” (John
and in doing so, we will conversely hate those things that
3:16). I am inclined to believe that according to Scripture,
the Lord hates. And so, my friend, I am compelled to ask,
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), the unsaved
“What do you love, and does it qualify you to be ‘a person
(Romans 5:8), those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
after God’s own heart’?” Shalom!
3:12; Hebrews 12:6), and justice (Psalm 37:28). Oh yes,
12 // March 2020
About The Author
(John 16:27), those He has to chastise or correct (Proverbs
Dr. Wayne Williams, executive director of World Harvest Ministries and certified marriage counselor is married to his high school sweetheart, Lita LaMour Mack. They have one adult daughter, Brittany, a graduate of Lee University who has been married almost four years to her fellow college classmate, Dennis.
