By Pastor Jack Marbida
While you know that your destiny is under God’s hands, the life of Joseph talks about being offended by his brothers. And while it hurts to be offended by people very close to you, it is more offensive to be hurt by your own father. Not only your biological father but also those people you consider fathers, teachers or mentors who are very close to you. If you look at the Bible, the best example for this would be King David, who was called the man after God’s own heart. Who would not want to be called that? You can tell me that you are, but it is different if God Calls you that Himself.
David is the youngest son of Jesse. At one point, while the next king was being chosen, David was tending the sheep and Jesse presented all of his seven sons except for him! 1 Samuel 16:12-13 says, “So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.” Because Saul needed somebody to play the harp for him, somebody remembered David. ! Samuel 16:18 says, “Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.” Who do you think knows you from the inside out? Your best friend probably knows one or two of your best traits. But who really knows you as you?
While Saul was having a difficult time ruling his kingdom, David would play the harp for him and he gained favor with the king and the entire kingdom. He probably thought that Saul would mentor him and all. But David was given the position of cupbearer, and you all know what that entails. During the time that David killed Goliath, the prize was marriage to one of Saul’s daughters. And so he became a part of the royal family. David became known not only in the palace but in nearby regions too. 1 Samuel 18:7 even says, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Because of this, anger was slowly building up in Saul’s heart. And David could not comprehend all this, knowing that he is second in command and is soon to be crowned king. Why is there a price on his head?
Going back to the bait of Satan, the enemy is setting all these up so that you will fall into sin. This should be studied so that when they are exposed, you can triumph and overcome all of this.
How can you become a man or woman after God’s own heart?
Honor God’s anointed - When Saul was wanting to kill David already, he was searching for him in En Gedi. (Samuel 24:2) And while God delivered Saul right under David’s nose, he did not kill him even if he had the chance because David knew that he is the Lord’s anointed. (1 Samuel 24:9-11) He honored this and he believed that he should not kill God’s anointed. Deuteronomy 17:14-15 says, “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.” David had another chance to kill Saul but he did not do it again . (1 Samuel 26:9) God was testing David’s heart in these circumstances but David remained after God’s own heart because he honored God’s anointed.
Vengeance is the Lord’s - Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” David knows that this is a law. Romans 12:19 also says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” What if you were hurt and maltreated badly, can you take revenge? No. Psalms 94:1 says, “O Lord, God of Vengeance, God of Vengeance, shine forth!” God will fight for you. Doo not take matters into your own hands. When David found out that Saul was dead, he killed the bearer of bad news and mourned for the king. (2 Samuel 1:14-15)
Bless and do good to people - Every time you feel offended with people around you, kill them,... kill them with kindness. So Saul and Jonathan were gone and David was on the search for the descendants so he could do them good. He found Mephibosheth and restored to him all that is supposedly his and let him sit at his table. (2 Samuel 9:1, 6-7) He is really called a man after God’s own heart because He blessed and did good to people. ‘
Not all leaders are perfect. Not all leaders are godly. And even godly leaders make mistakes. That is reality. But their authority comes from God. 1 Peter 2:13-17 says, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” These verses were spoken when King Agrippa was killing Christians in cold blood, but you are still encouraged to respect and honor the king. You have to see beyond man’s behavior and
see what God has placed in that person of position and why God put him there. When the one in authority asks you to sin, there is a higher authority and that is God. But when it comes to respect, it is a matter of attitude.
One of the deadliest deceptive moves of Satan is honoring authority. You will face it every day of your life. How can you respect and honor people in authority? Become a man or woman after God’s own heart. This is a very difficult thing to do. But with the Holy Spirit in your heart, you will. Overcome.