There are many characters in the Bible noted for doing remarkable things that even God Himself recognised, but only one man did God describe in these terms: "I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will." (Acts 13:22, Psalm 89:20, 1 Samuel 13:14)

If we step back in biblical history to before God made that statement, we find that unlike other nations, Israel had no king. They were led by prophets who served as mediators between God as King and the people. At some point, the people rebelled against this structure that God Himself had established and demanded a king. Part of the cause was the indiscipline and corruption of the prophet Samuel's children, as written in 1 Samuel 8:5: "Look, you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have."

Samuel was not happy with this, because he understood the full implication of what they were asking. By demanding a human king, they were rejecting the kingship of God. He did everything to dissuade the elders of Israel, but they were adamant. When Samuel brought the matter to God, the Lord replied: "Do everything they say to you, for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer." (1 Samuel 8:7). How sad is that?

Fast forward to when God made His statement about David. Israel had their wish. Saul was anointed as king over Israel. Outwardly, he fit the profile perfectly. He was tall, handsome, and carried a kingly bearing, but inwardly he was not aligned with God. So focused was he on himself and his own dynasty that he did not realise he had fallen out of favour with God until it was too late. God rejected him as king and led Samuel to anoint a highly unusual candidate: a shepherd boy whom hardly anyone knew.

What was it about David that moved God to make such a statement about him? Humanly speaking, if you placed David's actions side by side with Saul's, you might well rate Saul as the better man, yet Saul was the one God rejected. Why?

The answer can be found in what God said when Samuel was sent to the home of Jesse to select a new king. In 1 Samuel 16:6, Samuel took one look at Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, and concluded, "Surely this is the LORD's anointed!" But God responded, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." There is the answer: the posture of the heart. God was not looking for a perfect person. He was looking for someone whose heart was fully disposed towards Him.

It is easy to read about David and place him on a pedestal, but David was a deeply flawed man. He committed adultery, orchestrated murder, and failed as a father in several painful ways. What set him apart was not a spotless record but the orientation of his heart. When he sinned, he did not rationalise or run from God. He ran to God. Psalm 51 is the prayer of a man who knew exactly where his only hope lay.

With that in mind, consider these honest questions for the week ahead. When you wake each morning, is your first instinct towards God or away from Him? When you fail, do you draw near or withdraw? Are the decisions you make shaped by what God desires or by what suits you? You do not need to be perfect to be a person after God's own heart, but you do need to be honest about where your heart is actually pointed. 

Take a moment today, perhaps in a quiet few minutes with your Bible, to ask God to reveal the true posture of your heart and then to redirect it towards Him.

Can I ask you the question I have been asking myself? What is the posture of your heart?
David's life stands as both a challenge and an encouragement. A challenge, because God is not impressed by appearances, titles, or outward religion. An encouragement, because the God who looked past more polished candidates to choose a shepherd boy is the same God who looks at your heart today, not your performance. He is not searching for the most accomplished person in the room. He is searching for someone who genuinely wants Him.

The pursuit of God is not a sprint to moral perfection. It is a daily turning of the heart towards the One who already knows everything about you and still calls you His own. May that be the defining posture of your life.