1 Samuel 13:14 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A man after his own heart— A variety of able writers amongst us have lately fully explained and vindicated this expression from the insults of free-thinkers. We will refer at the end of the note to some of them, while we produce Bishop Warburton's Exposition, which appears to us extremely just. "David was a man of so opposite a character to Saul with regard to his sentiments of the law, that it appears to have been for this difference alone that he was decreed by God to succeed the other in the kingdom. Now David sojourned some time in Naioth, which was the academy of the prophets, chap. 1 Samuel 19:18. And here it was, as we may reasonably conclude, that he so greatly cultivated and improved his natural disposition of love and zeal for the law, as to merit that most glorious of all titles, the man after God's own heart: for, till this time, his employment and way of life had been very different; his childhood and youth were spent in the country, and his early manhood in camps and courts. But it is of importance to know, that this character was not given him for his private morals, but his public, his zeal for the advancement of the glory of the theocracy. This is seen from the first mention of him in this passage: and if we would but seek for the reason of this pre-eminence in David's public, not in his private character, we should see that it afforded no occasion of scandal. His zeal for the law was constantly the same; and above all he never fell into idolatry. But the phrase itself of a man after God's own heart, is best explained in the case of Samuel. Eli the prophet was rejected, and Samuel put into his place, just in the same manner as David superseded Saul. On this occasion, when God's purpose was denounced to Eli, we find it expressed in the same manner, chap. 1 Samuel 2:35. I will raise me up a faithful priest, who shall do according to that which is in my heart. And is not he who does according to what is in God's heart, a man after God's heart?" See Div. Leg. vol. 4: p. 360. Chandler's Review, p. 85. Patten's Vindication of David, &c. &c.