What Does It Mean to Be a Man After Gods Own Heart
Question
How could David exist considered a man subsequently God's own heart?
Reply
To sympathize why David was a man after God'due south ain centre, we demand to see what characteristics he had to qualify for such an exalted description. In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul speaks of God'south feelings about Male monarch David: "Later removing Saul, he made David their male monarch. He testified concerning him: 'I have constitute David son of Jesse, a man afterward my ain heart; he will exercise everything I want him to practice'" (Acts thirteen:22). The answer to why David was considered a man subsequently God'due south own heart is establish right in the poesy: David did whatever God wanted him to do. An obvious question is how could God still call David a man afterward His ain eye when David committed such terrible sins, including infidelity and murder?
We learn much of David's character in the volume of Psalms equally he opened up his life for all to examine. David's life was a portrait of success and failure, and the biblical record highlights the fact that David was far from perfect. Only what made David a cutting above the residuum was that his eye was pointed toward God. He had a deep desire to follow God's volition and do "everything" God wanted him to do. He was a man afterwards God's own heart. Allow's look at some characteristics of David'due south life to detect what that entails:
Part of why David is chosen a man after God'southward own center is that he had absolute faith in God. Nowhere in Scripture is this bespeak better illustrated than in 1 Samuel 17 where David as a immature shepherd boy fearlessly slew the Philistine, Goliath. Shortly before the duel, nosotros run into direct evidence of David'south organized religion when David says, "'The LORD who delivered me from the manus of the lion and from the paw of the conduct volition deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.' And Saul said to David, 'Get, and the LORD exist with you!'" (poesy 37). David was fully aware that God was in control of his life, and he had faith that God would deliver him from impending danger. How else would 1 venture into a potentially fatal situation with such calm and confidence? David knew early on in life that God was to be trusted and obeyed. As nosotros encounter in Scripture, David's faith pleased God, and God rewards David for his faithfulness.
Some other reason David was a human after God'southward own heart is that he absolutely loved God's Police force. Of the 150 psalms in the Bible, David is credited for writing over half of them. Writing at various and oft troubling times in his life, David repeatedly mentioned how much he loved God's perfect Discussion. We find a beautiful instance of this in Psalm 119:47–48: "For I please in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I dear, and I meditate on your decrees." Information technology is not difficult to see his complete adoration for God'due south Word. Also find how David "meditates" on God'due south statutes. God granted David agreement and wisdom through daily meditation. Nosotros would practise well to not only read God'south Word but also recollect most it throughout the day, for God loves us to retrieve nearly Him. "Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do goose egg wrong; they walk in his ways" (Psalm 119:2–iii).
David was a man afterward God's ain heart in that he was truly thankful. "I launder my hands in innocence, and go almost your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds" (Psalm 26:6–7). David'due south life was marked by seasons of smashing peace and prosperity as well as times of fearfulness and despair. But through all of the seasons in his life, he never forgot to thank the Lord for everything that he had. It is truly ane of David's finest characteristics. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thank you to him; bless his proper name!" (Psalm 100:4, ESV). As followers of Jesus Christ, we would do well to follow David's lead of offer praise through thanksgiving to our Lord.
Subsequently he sinned, David was truly repentant. David's sin with Bathsheba is recorded in 2 Samuel 11:2–5. The mighty fall hard, and David's fall included adultery, lying, and murder. He had sinned against God, and he admits it in 2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, 'I accept sinned against the LORD.' And Nathan said to David, 'The LORD also has put away your sin; you lot shall not dice.'" But admitting our sin and asking for forgiveness is only half of the equation. The other half is repentance, and David did that also. Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance to God: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast honey; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1–2).
In conclusion, David was a man after God'due south own heart because he demonstrated his religion and was committed to following the Lord. Yes, his faith was tested on a chiliad calibration, and he failed at times. Merely after his sin he sought and received the Lord'due south forgiveness. In the final analysis, David loved God's Law and sought to follow it exactly. As a human being after God's own centre, David is a role model for all of us.
Miscellaneous Bible Questions
How could David exist considered a human later God'south own center?
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This page terminal updated: January 4, 2022
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