A Man After God’s Own Heart
Dearly beloved of God, God looks on the heart, not the outward appearance.
I Samuel 16 through I Kings 2:11, as well as I Chronicles 10:14 through chapter 29 covers David’s life. It would be well worth your time to read about him. This portion of Scripture covers his life from the time he was a young man until he was an old man to the end of his life.
There is great learning in the relationships he had with men like Samuel, his family, King Saul, Jonathan, Nathan, his wives, his children, and the priests, warriors, and advisers that served with him, and more.
We can also learn a great deal from how David faced situations; situations from the time he received the spirit of the LORD until the end of his life.
When he faced Goliath in battle, he said, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.” He certainly had a different perspective than all his contemporaries had in the situation.
When Saul wanted to kill him, he told Jonathan, “…there is but a step between me and death.” Now that’s a dire situation.
David’s life gives us examples of how he walked with God so that we might learn from them. The Word of God is honest; it reveals the good and the bad.
David screwed up royally at times. He numbered Israel and Judah, against God’s commandment. He put the Ark of the Covenant on a “new cart” to move it to the city of David contrary to God’s command and Uzzah died for his negligence. And yes, he had Uriah the Hittite killed to cover up his affair with Uriah's wife who was with child. God forgave all his sins.
David “inquired of the LORD”, he was “encouraged by the LORD,” and he fought at the LORD’S direction.
God said, “I took thee from the sheep cote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My People, over Israel….”
David knew loyalty and betrayal, the love of a friend and the hatred of his enemies. He saw his own son rise up against him. He lived through treachery and deceit from those he worked with closely, and, he had mighty men that were faithful to him. He was not without enemies or opportunities; they were plentiful.
If you want to see David’s heart read the book of Psalms. David became a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22, which is a combined quotation from Psalm 89:20, and I Samuel 13, 14) and God made him a promise that He would establish his house forever. Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords came from David's seed according to His promise.
David was a human being just like you and me. He grew. He walked before God faithfully, but he was not without sin; he did some terrible things, but he got up, kept walking with God and BECAME a man after His own heart. God forgave him, and He didn't bring them up again, nor hold his sins over his head.
You see a glimpse of what was in David’s heart for God in I Chronicles 29 when he dedicated God’s House. I am so thankful that God looks on our heart and not on the outward appearance.
David could have done nothing without God’s leading, His guidance, and His help. Flesh-wise David was no different than you or me. We all have the opportunity to grow in our walk's with God as he did, dearly beloved, so that God can lead, guide, and help us as He did David.