“And after He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ ”   Acts 13:22

We return once more to the thirteenth chapter of the book of Acts and its rich content of Old Testament quotes cited by the apostle Paul when given the opportunity in the synagogue at Psidian Antioch (in Syria) to give a “word of exhortation for the people” (Acts 13:15). 

This inspired statement by Paul is a combination of two Old Testament passages. The first comes from Psalm 89:20, “I have found David My servant;With My holy oil I have anointed him” and 1 Samuel 13:14, “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” Paul declares to the assembled that it was from the descendants of this man, David, that God was going to bring the savior, Jesus, in the flesh. We also know from Scripture that David served not only as a father in the flesh but as a type of the Messiah as well. A key character trait that was foreshadowed in David becoming the king that was to be shared by the eternal King was his heart, his desire to execute the Lord’s will. Of the savior it is said, “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the roll of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God.’ ” (Heb. 10:7) David, the type, was raised up to be king and seated on a throne because he aspired to carry out the Lord’s will. Jesus, the True King, performed the will of the Father flawlessly on earth including the offering of His body in sacrificial service to the Father in heaven. When Jesus’ will was tested in the garden of Gethsemane as the reality of the cross came into view, it wasn’t bested by some earthly pull. It was predicated upon the Father’s will. “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) At this critical time when He was “very distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:33b) and His soul was “deeply grieved” (Mark 14:34a), “an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.”  (Luke 22:43) Perhaps now would be a good time for us to remember the Old Testament passage from 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” This writer believes that Jesus knew He would receive help in His time of need, just as we are promised through the inspired author of the letter to the Hebrews. (C. f. Heb. 4:16) Having demonstrated His unyielding yearning to bring about the Father’s will, He was raised from the dead all the way to the eternal throne in heaven in order to receive the promised “holy and sure blessings of David” (Acts 13:34). In His ascension to glory, He was able to realize the ultimate will of the Father by taking “away the first (Old Covenant) in order to establish the second” (the New Covenant, see Heb. 10:9). Brethren, do we properly appraise what the heart of Jesus, which was completely dedicated to the LORD, has done for us? Saved and sanctified us, right? (Heb. 10:10) David as the type, Jesus as the ante type, the true example, God has given us these so that we would understand that faith involves executing the LORD’s will. What did Jesus say? “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21) You claim to be a part of the sanctified brethren? “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matt. 12:50) A heart that belongs to God does His will, no questions, no excuses. Just as David was raised up as a king, so those in Christ that humbled themselves and submitted to the Father’s plan of salvation in Christ Jesus –  belief, repentance, confessing Jesus as Lord and being immersed for the forgiveness of theirs sins to receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit – have been raised up (Eph. 2:10) and seated with Christ in the heavenly places. “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9) What a great prayer for all of us to offer for one another. And if your heart is completely His, then His eyes are upon you to strongly support you in executing His will. Amen.