EVER AFTER
I Samuel 13:14 …the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people ... I Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. …
I Kings 3:9,10 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
Who would spend time arguing over the better heart? Isn’t it enough to serve the Lord God? Father and son, both, served God. Both kings were known for God’s love toward them. Yet, God’s word elevates one heart above the other. Both kings set standards of behavior we should emulate in our walk with God, yet one king holds precedence. One heart was perfect. Whose heart, David’s or Solomon’s?
The two of these in one might seem to be the perfect man for our aspiration. If we take the faith, strength, and courage of David and combine it with the wisdom, understanding, and devotion of Solomon we might come close to having the perfect heart, right? Not according to God’s word.
The perfect heart to God is not about our attributes, abilities, and actions. Our failures, weaknesses, and inabilities can deny us not a heart of perfection. So, then what is the perfect heart?
The reign of David brought together the nation of Israel and solidified its prominence within the world of nations. Solomon’s reign brought nations to Israel and God to the world. Solomon reigned with a heart after the heart of the people of God. David reigned with a heart after the heart of God. Solomon missed his mark by aiming just a little too low. Solomon meant well and did well. They both served and pleased God. One loved after all and one loved, continually, ever after.
Our key to perfection is in the “after”. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. - I Kings 11:4 Have you ever considered the “after”. David was ever after God’s own heart. The mainstay of David’s life was the pursuit of God’s heart. David set God’s heart before his own and followed the heart of God. When David set himself on the field before Goliath, he ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Wouldn’t God have done the same? David was a man after God’s own heart on that lonely battlefield. There are also the accounts of those who have suffered and died running after God or God’s. These did not seek after the heart of God; they sought preeminence over God, setting their heart and desire before God rather than after. Ask pharaoh who chased the Israelites into the sea, if you dare to find him in the pit of Hell. Where is the young rich man who came running to Jesus and left grieving over riches when he should have grieved for his soul? His heart wasn’t in it either.
And, who is Jesus? Jesus is God’s heart, given to fallen man.
Are you before or after?
II Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. …
Do His eyes fall on you? Who would be like David?
Has God shown His strength in your behalf?
