What is God’s heart like? I have been reading in First Samuel about Saul, the first king of Israel and the events that followed after Saul sinned. The story of David before he took the throne has caused me to ask this question, what are the characteristics of God’s heart.
This question came to me because of how and why David became king. Remember that Saul had failed to destroy the Amalekites, took King Agag and kept the choice animals after the battle. When Samuel came to see him, he blamed the people for doing what God had told them not to do. His punishment was the end of his kingdom. Samuel told him that his kingdom would not continue and that God had found a man “after his own heart” (First Samuel 13:14). This same thought is expressed in Acts 13 when Paul preached at Antioch. He relates the story of the Israelites and how God raised up David to be king of Israel.
So, what describes God’s heart? What does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart? We can find part of the answer in Acts 13 in the description of David. God raised up David because, “He will do all my will.” Doing God’s will pleases Him, and His heart feels glad when we do.
God chose Saul as the first king of Israel, and he must have possessed some attributes of goodness for God to have made him king; however, Scripture says only that he stood taller than any man. We see fairly soon into Saul’s reign that he is not going to completely obey God’s instructions. Saul was obviously not a man after God’s own heart.
In this story of Saul, we can see one of the attributes of God’s heart. When God speaks to Samuel about anointing a king, Samuel is displeased; but God says, “…for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” (First Samuel 8:7). He obviously feels rejection.
We see another attribute of God’s heart in Genesis 6 when He decides to destroy the earth. Scripture says that He was grieved over the sins of man. The wickedness of man grieves God’s heart; and in the case of these people, it caused Him to show His wrath. Romans 12:19 tells us that there is no need for us to avenge ourselves for being treated unjustly. Vengeance belongs to Him.
God has a forgiving heart. When David was faced with his sin with Bathsheba, he confessed his sin without making excuses. We know God forgave him even though David lost the child Bathsheba was carrying. Paul speaks of God’s forgiveness in Colossians 3. He says we are to have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, and we must forgive one another. We are to forgive because God forgives us.
God’s heart of forgiveness shows His mercy and His love for us. You only need to read Ephesians 1 to see the glorious spiritual blessings He provides for us.
One of the greatest attributes of God’s heart is found in Romans 8. God works all things out for good. No matter what happens to us, when we pray, the Spirit intercedes for us; and God works toward what is good for all those who obey Him. His heart is about good things, not evil things.
The heart of God is shown clearest in John 3:16. It is sacrifice. He gave His only Son to come to the earth to die for us. Jesus came so that everyone has the opportunity to be saved. That salvation comes through obedience to God’s will. Salvation must come through Jesus and is the only way we can know the true heart of God.
We see a lot of the attributes of God in the life of David. David was patient in dealing with King Saul. He was merciful, sacrificial, a faithful friend, compassionate, loving, and forgiving. He lived up to God’s description that he had a heart like God’s. Sure, he made mistakes; but he owned his mistakes and took his punishment.
Being a woman after God’s own heart means that we are willing to obey all of His will, being forgiving, and being willing to admit our mistakes and repent. May we all work to be women after God’s own heart.
Sandra Oliver