After God’s Own Heart
Scripture tells us that David was a man after God’s own heart, (see 1 Samuel 13:14). What does it mean to be after God’s own heart? Well, I can tell you a few things that David did that proved he was truly after God’s own heart. David was obedient to God’s will, he was always repentant, and he acknowledged and sought the LORD always. We all should strive to be like David, meaning we should be chasing after the Father’s heart.
In everything that we do, we should inquire about the LORD before we go about our day. We tend to go off and do things without first asking the LORD if that is something we should do. Before David did anything he sought the LORD. “ 1 In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD, ‘Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?’ he asked. The LORD said, ‘Go up.’ David asked, ‘Where shall I go?’ ‘To Hebron’, The LORD answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Caramel” (2 Samuel 2:1-2). David had just been anointed king and was getting ready to move. Before he wandered off to find a place to settle, David asked the LORD where he should go, and the LORD answered. Once the LORD gave David direction, David immediately followed. As the LORD’s children we want to make sure that before we take on an assignment, task, or whatever may come, the LORD will be with us. For if God is not with us, we will not prosper (Numbers 14:42).
I know that as human beings we are not perfect and we fall short of God’s glory, (Romans 3:23). However, we are called to be repentant and sin no more, (see Luke 5:32). David by no means was perfect, however, when he sinned, he was not ashamed to ask the LORD for forgiveness of his sins. Many of the wrongs David committed included murder and adultery. David slept with his servant, Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. When David was informed that Bathsheba was with child, to cover his sin, David created a plan to have Uriah killed, (read 2 Samuel 11). Just when David thought he got away, the prophet Nathan was sent to rebuke him of his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-10). After Nathan told David of sin, David immediately repented. David didn’t curse Nathan or throw him in jail, he accepted the rebuke and repented.
“ 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what was evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” (Psalm 51:1-4. I recommend reading the whole psalm).
David humbled himself before the LORD and acknowledged the sin that he had committed against God. He did not try to blame others or find a way to justify his sin. David took FULL RESPONSIBILITY of his actions, and he asked the LORD to cleanse him of his sins. We should come humbly before the LORD and ask Him to forgive our sins daily. Please do not let another day go by without repenting for your sins.
Lastly, David was not ashamed to praise the LORD. There are so many Psalms in which David praises the LORD. As saints, we should praise the LORD unapologetically, no matter what people may think, feel, or say.
14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart……….. 20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” 21 David said to Michal, “it was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel–I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls, you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (2 Samuel 6:14-22)
David did not mind making a “fool” of himself, because he owed God everything. It was the LORD who made David king of Israel, it was the LORD who gave him victory over his enemies. So why would he not praise the LORD?
If you want to be after God’s own heart, you have to follow his precepts, (Deuteronomy 7:11-12, Leviticus 11:44). You can’t chase after the LORD while trying to do your own thing. You must humble yourself, seek his face, and repent (2 Chronicles 7:14). As David told Solomon before he passed, “ 3 Observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go” (1 Kings 2:3).