Elder Ko Swee Chay

David – a man after God’s own heart

Introduction
The life of David is recorded in 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2, and 1 Chronicles 11 to 29. He is also mentioned in Amos 6:5; Matthew 1:1 & 22:42-45; Luke 1:32; Acts 13:22; Romans 1:3 and Hebrews 11:32.

David was born in 1040 BC and was the youngest son of the eight sons of Jesse. He was the second and greatest of Israel’s kings, and the ancestor of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. The father of David, Jesse, who lived in the little town of Bethlehem, was a man of humble background. David in his youth worked as a shepherd to tend his father’s sheep. Under divine instruction, David was anointed to be God’s chosen king by the prophet Samuel at a young age, probably a teenager of about 16, to succeed king Saul. The Bible said that “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day onward.” (1 Sam 16:13). For the next ten over years, David faced great testing and trials. Though he had served king Saul faithfully and did nothing wrong against him, he had to flee for his life from king Saul who wanted to kill him out of jealousy for he knew that David would replace him as the next king of Israel. By God’s sovereign hand and protection, many attempts by king Saul to kill him either directly or indirectly failed miserably. He was on the run and became a fugitive. He came under great stress, great difficulties and challenging circumstances and situations, and faced great uncertainties. He was stripped of almost everything. He lost his home, his family and friends, his possessions, the comforts of life and the safety and security of his homeland. He even had to take refuge in the territory of Israel’s enemy, the Philistines. He exercised perseverance and unwavering faith in the LORD, he obeyed and trusted in the LORD. He waited patiently on the LORD’s timing and direction for he believed that the LORD will deal with his enemies and deliver him. He remained steadfast in his resolve to obey and fulfil God’s will for his life and to leave matters in God’s Hands. He passed these testing and trials with flying colours. Finally, after some 14 long years, his life as a fugitive, running and hiding like a hunted animal, came to an end. He began to reign at the age of 30 years old and reigned for 40 years, first 7.5 years in Hebron over Judah and next 33 years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah (2 Sam 5:4-5, 1 Kings 2:11).

When people think of king David of the Bible, what comes to mind is that he is one of the greatest men in the Old Testament, the LORD labelled him with a honourable term “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14 and Acts 13:22). What people may remember as well is his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and his indirect murder of Uriah the husband of Bathsheba, and his failures to discipline and punish his children for their sins. The Bible revealed to us David’s heart for God, as well as David’s sins and failures. The positives are for us to emulate and the negatives are for our learning and warning. We as Bible-believing Christians should be curious and keen to find out what are the characters and qualities that made the LORD exalt David with this honourable description - “a man after his own heart”, despite his failures and sins.

Meaning of the phrase “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14 & Acts 13:22)
David is described as “a man after (or “according to”) his (God’s) own heart”. In the light of the contextual emphasis on Saul’s disobedience, this phrase has the idea of “like-minded”, that is committed to obey the Lord’s commands (cf. Acts 13:22). It means a person who will desire to please God in all he does. It does not mean that he is perfect but it does mean that when he has sinned against God he will please God and not self or any man. He will love God more than anyone or anything on earth. He desires to please God always. If he has done wrong he confesses and repents with all his heart. If God asks him to do something, he will obey and not allow anyone or anything to stop him. He trusts God to take care of the consequence. Only believers can do this. No one else can. In fact, all believers are to be “a man after God’s own heart”. Some Bible verses, that describe believers, which have the same meaning as the phrase are Mark 12:29-31, Luke 14:26-27 and Matt 5:48.

From the Scriptures, we can learn much about the good characters and qualities of David for us to follow. A few examples are given in the following sections, which by no means is exhaustive.

David Kept God’s Commandments
King Saul was afraid of the invading Philistines, and seeing that his people were deserting him because of fear, and being impatient when Samuel was late for the appointed time, he took matters into his own hands to offer burnt offering and peace offering thinking that the LORD would be pleased (1 Sam 13:5-12). He transgressed against the revealed commandment of the LORD which clearly stated that only the priests whom God had anointed were permitted to make offerings to the LORD (Lev 6:8-13). The LORD spoke through Samuel these words to Saul: “.... Thou hath done foolishly: thou hath not kept the commandments of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” (1 Sam 13:13-14). From these two verses, we know that the LORD was looking for a king who will keep His commandments and fear Him instead of man; not to take things into his own hands, not to trust in his own judgment and not to do what is right in his own eyes. David was one such king, “a man after God’s own heart”, he knew God and His Word, his conduct and action were in accordance to God’s Word. For examples, in the two accounts given in 1 Sam 24:1-7 and 26:1-12, David was presented with two golden opportunities to finish off king Saul with one simple stroke to end his miserable fugitive life and to ascend to the throne immediately. However, David being a man after God’s own heart refused to succumb to the great temptation and chose instead to obey God’s Word - to “touch not the LORD’s anointed” physically.

Saul reigned over Israel for 40 years. After Saul reigned for 2 years when he sinned and God mentioned the phrase about David being “a man after God’s own heart”. David became king at age 30 years. 8 years before David was born was the phrase made by God. This means that the phrase describes David's entire life and not anything he did beforehand. The phrase is not sinless perfection but repentance. King Saul was “a man after his own heart” because he did not repent. He blames others for his sin. David did not. He repents.

David Fulfilled God’s Will
In Acts 13:22, apostle Paul speaks of God’s testimony of David: “And when he had removed him, he raised unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse A MAN AFTER MINE OWN HEART, which shall fulfil all my will.” David was considered by God to be “a man after His own heart” because David did whatever God wanted him to do and accomplish in his life as an anointed king of God’s holy nation Israel. Though David was far from perfect, what made him special was that he had a heart for God. He desired and endeavoured to do the will of God and to please and honour God in all his ways no matter what. He knew and learned early in his life that God is in control of his life, he simply needed to submit to and do the will of God. He knew the will of God is for him to trust and obey God regardless of the circumstances, either as a fugitive running from the persecution of king Saul dwelling in the wilderness or as a king living a luxurious and comfortable life in the palace. He knew the will of God is to be the king of Israel to rule in justice and righteous, to suppress all the neighbouring countries and to establish peace and stability in the kingdom of God. He willingly accepted the will of God not for him to build God’s house, but to prepare the site and materials for his son Solomon. In Psalm 40:8, David wrote: “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is written in my heart.”

David Showed Great Courage and Faith in defending God’s Name
1 Samuel 17 gives an account of how David single handedly defeated the Philistines’ giant, Goliath. This divinely inspired account clearly shows that David was “a man after God’s own heart”. He loved God and gave honour and glory to God. He acknowledged the power of God based on his experiential knowledge as a shepherd for his father’s sheep. He didn’t boast of his own ability and courage, but attributed them to God. He showed great confidence and trust in the LORD.

David being young and inexperienced in warfare, his great courage and bravery to take on the humiliating and defying challenge of Goliath was based upon the following:

• He saw beyond the physical. He didn’t see the armies of Israel as the armies of men. He saw them as the armies of the living God. “.... seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Sam 17:36).

• He recognized the power of God to defeat the Goliath and believed that He will delivered him from his enemy. “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistines...” (1 Sam 17:37). “.... Thou cometh to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I came to thee in the name of the LORD of the armies of Israel, whom thou hath defied.” (1 Sam 17:45).

• He knew that the name and the honour of the LORD were at stake. He couldn’t tolerate the insult and ridicule of Goliath on God’s people and indirectly on God, and wanted to defend and glorify God’s name. “This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; .... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 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 hand.” (1 Sam 17:46-47).

• He understood that this was the LORD’s battle, a spiritual battle between the armies of the living God and the unbelieving Philistines. (1 Sam 17:36 & 47).

What David did was not to seek personal gain and vainglory, not on a hot-blooded spur of the moment, and certainly not out of “pride and the naughtiness of his heart” accused by his eldest brother Eliab (1 Sam 17:28). He had the courage and faith in defending God’s Name, and the heart for God and God’s people even at this very young age.

David Behaved Wisely
In the period when David was serving king Saul first as his armourbearer and musician (1 Sam 16: 21 & 23) and later in Saul’s armies (1 Sam 18), the Bible says, “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and he behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” (1 Sam 18:5); “David behaved himself wisely in all his ways...” (1 Sam 18:14); “.... David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.” (1 Sam 18:30). David’s conduct and behavior was exemplary. He was royal and faithful and discharged his duties as expected of him. He led his soldiers to many battles with great victory. Because he behaved wisely continuously and consistently in all his ways, he was well accepted and loved by all the people in Israel and Judah. He was able to behave wisely in a perfect way because he walked closely with the LORD, he was conscious of the presence of the LORD, his heart was guarded and guided by God’s Word, he hated wicked things and stayed away from wicked person. Psalm 101:2-4 sums up nicely his heart desire to behave himself wisely: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.”

David had a heart for God
1 Sam 16:7: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as the man seeth; for the man lookth on the outward appearance, but the LORD lookth on the heart.” The LORD was not impressed with the externals of the first seven sons of Jesse and had not chosen them (1 Sam 16:10). The LORD focused on the inward qualities, the characters and conditions of the heart: love for God and God’s Word, spirituality, purity, godliness, faithfulness, righteousness, forgiving spirit, kindness, graciousness, honesty, integrity, humbleness and attitude toward sin. Finally, when David was brought in, the LORD said to Samuel, “Arise, anoint him”. (1 Sam 16:12). Of the 150 Psalms in the Bible, David is credited with writing about half of them. From these Psalms and other passages in the Bible, we can get to know the heart of David. For example:

• He loved God’s Word – “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” (Ps 119:47-48). Like David, we will do well and be blessed if we were to read, meditate on and obey God’s Word continuously and consistently. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walked in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Ps 119:1-2).

• He had absolute faith in God – As mentioned before, David had an absolute perseverance and unwavering faith in God from a young age. How he fearlessly came forward and slew Goliath demonstrated that he had absolute faith in God that He would deliver him from the impending danger.

• He was truly thankful to God – Throughout his life, whether in times of despair and helplessness or in times of great peace and prosperity, David never forgot to give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, mercy and grace in his life, and for everything that he had achieved and acquired. Psalm 100 reflects his thankful heart toward God, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Ps. 100:4-5)

• He gave the honour and glory to God – David knew and acknowledged openly that all military successes and victories in the battles against the neighbouring countries were of the LORD; He enabled him, gave him the strength and successes. David’s wonderful song of praise of his deliverance from the hand of Saul and all his enemies is given in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18.

David Confessed and Repented of his sin quickly without excuses
2 Sam 11 records for us the sins of covetousness, adultery and murder committed by David. The LORD used Nathan to point out and rebuke his sins (2 Sam 12:7-9) and the punishment pronounced by the LORD (2 Sam 12:10-12). David instantly confessed and repented “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Sam 12:13a). His confession was plain, simple and direct. He didn’t make any excuses or try to rationalize. He didn’t blame others, nor did he complain about the punishment being too harsh. This is the beginning of true repentance. Nathan replied that “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (12:13b). The LORD was gracious and righteous to forgive David when he confessed and repented of his sin from his heart. However, he had to face the consequences of his sin for the rest of his life.

Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance to God after he had gone into Bathsheba, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” (Ps 51:1-3).

Toward the end of his life, out of pride and probably self-glory in his own accomplishment, David ordered a general census of the population to be taken. When he realized that he had sinned against God, “David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.” (2 Sam 24:10a), he confessed and repented to the LORD immediately, “.... And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” (2 Sam 24:10b). Though his sin was forgiven, he and the people of Israel had to bear the punishment of David’s sin.

David’s confessions were from the heart, and his repentance was genuine. While he sinned greatly, he didn’t sin repeatedly. He learned from his mistakes and he accepted the painful consequence they brought.

Conclusion
The almighty LORD God, by His sovereign will and marvelous grace, bestowed David with an honourable description “a man after my own heart” because David demonstrated his faith and was committed to follow, obey and serve God. He loved and kept God’s Word. He behaved himself wisely in all his ways. He had a heart for God. He diligently fulfilled God’s Will for his life to be the second king of Israel that suppressed all the enemies and neighbouring countries, and united the southern Judah and the northern Israel, and brought peace and stability to the whole of Israel, and to prepare the site and materials for the building of God’s house by his son Solomon. When he sinned, he confessed and repented from the heart quickly without making any excuses, and willingly accepted the punishment for his sin. David is a great role model for all of us to follow, despite his failures and sins. May God help us to learn the many spiritual lessons from the life of David – a man after God’s own heart. AMEN.