“He (or she) is a person after God’s own heart.” Can you think of anything better for someone to say about you than that?

When King Saul had disobeyed God, Samuel came to him with the news that he had acted foolishly.

“…now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and appointed him leader of his people.” I Samuel 13:14

David was that man. We could talk about this dynamic character for a whole year’s worth of blogs, but I think Samuel’s comment sums him up—a man after God’s own heart.

Oh, yes, we would also have to talk about David’s failures and sins; he was not a perfect man. We would need to be reminded of his overt sin with Bathsheba and the resultant cover-up attempt which eventually led to the murder of her husband, Uriah. In addition, his fatherly instincts with his boys were deplorable, leaving him to flee from one of his own sons who tried to take over the throne.

Yet, he was a man after God’s own heart. 

David lived in a savage time in the history of Israel. God’s command to go in and conquer the  promised land required one brutal battle after the other. Not a pretty sight, yet David was given the gifts of leadership, perseverance, and courage to see it through. He patiently waited his turn for kingship and honored the position of God’s anointed as he waited. In the midst of it all, he sought after God’s own heart.

Through his songs, we see the tender, compassionate side of David.

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning. My God turns my darkness into light.” Psalm 18:28

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from sin.” Psalm 51:1-2 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6

Do you hear his longing and struggle to have a heart for God? How many times have we heard David refer to God as his rock, his fortress, and strength? And then we hear David’s beautiful comparison of the Lord as his shepherd in Psalm 23.

And so, Jerusalem became known as the city of David. Jesus was often referred to as the Son of David.

While we do not wish to be David and certainly not act like him in particular aspects, we can learn from him to the extinct that we desire to be a person after God’s own heart.

These are some final thoughts about David in my quiet moments these past two weeks as I continue to exercise, rest, and put on ice packs with anticipation of healing. Like so many things in life, we must wait with patience which includes having a heart that resembles God’s own heart.

~ Joyce ~