DAVID- A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART
DAVID
THE MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART
and the Sweet Psalmist of Israel
When He [God] had removed him [Saul], He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”
ACTS 13:22
Most notable quality: Heart for God
Most notable accomplishment: Unified Israel
Date lived: 1040–970 B.C. (lived 70 years)
Name: David, meaning “beloved”
Major text: 1 Samuel 16–1 Kings 2
Bare Bones Background
After the death of Saul, David is crowned king by the tribe of Judah, which was in the southern part of Israel. After seven years of civil war, David is anointed king over all Israel. During the reign of David, the great empires of Egypt to the south and Babylon and Assyria to the north are in varying states of weakness. They will present no threat to Israel during the years of David’s 40-year reign. The only real threats will be the Philistines to the west and the Ammonites to the east.
Quick Sketch
David, like his predecessor, Saul, is of humble background. Yet he will rise to become the greatest king in the history of Israel. He is a born leader and forges an army that makes the tiny nation of Israel the most powerful Middle Eastern kingdom of his era. He establishes Jerusalem both as the political capital and the religious center of the nation, and brings the ark of God to Jerusalem. He is a gifted poet, with 73 of his poems included in the book of Psalms.
In spite of his excellent gifts and abilities, David still falls prey to temptation and sin. God forgives him, but his family and kingdom never recover from the consequences of his adulterous sin with Bathsheba.
The Big Picture
David as a shepherd—1 Samuel 16
David is the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse and lives in Bethlehem, about six miles from Jerusalem, the future site of David’s capital. As the youngest son, David is assigned to watch over the sheep. During these early days and nights while alone in the fields, David develops a reverence for God. This respect for God as Creator often found its way into his psalms, such as Psalm 19. It is during these shepherd days that Samuel anoints David, still a teenager, as God’s second king. Saul continues as king, but God has rejected him and God’s Spirit leaves Saul and comes mightily upon David.
David as a military hero—1 Samuel 17–18
The Philistine invasion of Israel brings David to the battlefront with supplies for his older brothers, who are part of Saul’s army. When David arrives, he is puzzled that no one—not even the king—is willing to fight the champion of the Philistines, a nine-foot-tall giant named Goliath. David accepts the challenge, kills the giant with a single stone from his slingshot, and from that day forward, displays continued courage and brilliance for the rest of his military career. Jonathan,
Saul’s eldest son, develops a close friendship with David during David’s rise in popularity. David is so honored by the people that Saul begins to look upon him with suspicion and jealousy.
David as an outlaw—1 Samuel 19–31
With each of David’s successes, Saul becomes more jealous. Even though David is now Saul’s son-in-law, having married Saul’s daughter, Michal, Saul attempts to kill David. With the help of Michal and Jonathan, David flees for his life. During the remaining years until his death, Saul would often pursue David. There are many close calls and last-minute escapes. As a born leader, David assembles a band of about 600 fierce fighting men and their families. Eventually, these men will make up the core of David’s army when he becomes king.
David as king over Judah—2 Samuel 1–4
With the death of Saul and three of his sons, Jonathan being one of them, David is made king over Judah, his tribe of origin. He is now 30 years old. One of Saul’s younger sons, Ish-bosheth, is declared king in the north, but it takes about five years for him to get all the people of the northern tribes to declare him their king. He reigns two years, then is murdered by his own men.
David as a kingdom builder—2 Samuel 5–10
All of Israel now comes together and anoints David as king. David had reigned for seven years over Judah, and he will reign for 33 years over all of Israel. His first act as king is to establish a new capital by capturing Jerusalem. During the process of defeating all of Israel’s foes, David will expand the borders of Israel tenfold. He also organizes the nation’s government and brings the ark of the covenant, the most holy object in Israel’s religion, to Jerusalem.
David’s declining years—2 Samuel 11–24; 1 Kings 2:10
David’s faith and trust in God has brought him to the pinnacle of success. He is the most powerful man in the region. But with no more challenges, a lethargy seems to take hold of David. Rather than go out and fight one more battle, David decides to stay in Jerusalem. As he walks on his roof, he sees a beautiful woman bathing below. He sends for her, commits adultery with her, then tries to hide his sin by murdering the woman’s husband.
One year later, David finally repents after being confronted by the prophet Nathan. God forgives David, but his moral failure will have a devastating effect on his family. One son rapes his half-sister, and that son is then killed by her brother, who later leads a rebellion that forces David to flee from Jerusalem before the son is killed in battle.
In his last years, David uses his energies and wealth preparing for the construction of a permanent temple that would replace the tabernacle, which had been a mobile place of worship to God during the exodus and the years following.
David’s final act as king is to have his son, Solomon, anointed king. David then dies in bed at age 70.
The Portrait
David’s life was full of contradictions:
• On the one hand, David was a deeply spiritual man with a tender heart for God, who spent much time praying, praising God, and writing psalms of worship for the Lord. On the other hand, he was a military genius who spent much of his life fighting and killing his enemies.
• One the one hand, David was intensely committed in his loyalty to Saul, even to his own peril. On the other hand, he was unconcerned about his exploitation of the women in his life.
• One the one hand, David had a great passion for honoring God and leading God’s people in worship. On the other hand, he was an uninvolved father who failed to control, guide, or discipline his children.
How are we to understand David’s life of contradiction?
First, we need to understand that the great David was just a man like us, with the same sin nature every person has. As you read his psalms, you see his struggles between the desire to do what was right and his inability at times to accomplish that desire. We will experience those kinds of struggles as well.
Second, God understood the imperfect nature of David’s love for Him. God obviously wasn’t looking for perfection. Rather, He was looking for progression. God looked into David’s heart and saw a man who often failed, but still truly desired to obey Him.
Life Lessons from David
A deep relationship with God takes time to build. David spent many hours watching over his father’s sheep, which allowed him much time to meditate upon and worship God. Later he would write poems (psalms) about this growing relationship. If you want to know God better, you too must spend time in personal and corporate worship.
Good friends will be there during the rough times. David and Jonathan developed a deep friendship that was mutually edifying. Their friendship was characterized by loyalty, love, and trust. This close relationship helped each of them to survive the hard times. Develop and protect those friendships that will build you up, encourage you, and challenge you in your walk with God. Seek true friends who are loyal, loving, and trustworthy.
No one is immune to temptation. David’s fall came after he had experienced years of immense success, and this most likely weakened his dependence upon God. Temptation will always lurk behind the next bend in the road, looking for an opportunity to make us fail. Never allow yourself to think you no longer need God for help with everyday living. It’s in the everyday living that you will need God the most.
Confession of sin is the first step to restoration. After his sin with Bathsheba, David’s unrepentant heart was destroying him physically. His deep sense of guilt is described in Psalm 32. After his repentance, as expressed in Psalm 51, David’s heart, health, and joy were restored. When you repent of sin and ask God’s forgiveness, you will experience spiritual and physical restoration. Don’t harbor sin in your life. Confess quickly, and be quickly restored.
Parenting requires involvement. David was an important, busy, and successful man. He was tops in his profession. But he failed as a father partly because of his lack of attention to the needs of his children. Parenting is a responsibility that requires much time and effort. But the rewards are great when you see your children grow up able to make right choices. Hopefully they will make the best choice of all, which is to choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
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DAVID [Dā′ vid]—BELOVED.
The youngest son of the eight sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite, the second and greatest of Israel’s kings, the eloquent poet and one of the most prominent figures in the history of the world (Ruth 4:17,22; I Samuel 16:13).
The Man After God’s Own Heart
Volumes have been written on the trials and triumphs of David, a mountain peak among Bible characters, who was carefully chosen as Israel’s second king by God Himself. David’s father, Jesse, was a man of no great rank who lived in the little town of Bethlehem. In his youth David was trained to tend his father’s sheep.
Being the youngest of the family he was not brought into public notice, yet it pleased God to raise him from a low estate and set him upon the throne. He was overlooked by the prophet Samuel, but the prophet obeyed when God said, “Arise anoint him, this is he.” All we can do in this study is to offer a brief sketch of David’s eventful life. We view him as:
I. A Warrior
David was courageous as a champion and a great soldier (I Samuel 17:40; II Samuel 5:7). His fight with Goliath the giant made him a marked man. He had not the training of a soldier. As yet he had not reached the years of manhood. Dressed like a poor country shepherd lad, he had no weapons save his sling. Never were two warriors more unequally matched, but when David was victorious over Goliath there was no empty boasting, no reliance upon his own powers. God gave the victory and David gave Him all the glory. He became a man of war and because of that was not allowed to build the Temple (I Chronicles 28:3).
II. As a Musician
Because he was a skillful player on the harp he found himself in the presence of the wretched king, Saul, who could only be soothed by David’s music. Poetic genius made him the sweet psalmist of Israel, and no poet has been so constantly used and quoted through the ages. His majestic psalms are the
masterpiece of spiritual literature.
III. As a Saint
David was accepted as a child of God. The general trend of his life was spiritual (I Samuel 13:14; I Kings 15:5). What other man has had the reputation of being known as a man after God’s own heart? Such an expression does not refer to any remarkable goodness in David, but to him as one whom God had chosen to be the ruler of His people. He was the man according to God’s special choice. His psalms of praise, worship and meditation indicate the God-ward direction of his life.
IV. As a Sinner
David violated a divine law (Deuteronomy 17:17; II Samuel 5:13), yielded to his gross sin in a period of ease (II Samuel 11) and was rebuked by the prophet Nathan (II Samuel 12). David stained his character by his sin against Uriah and by the deceitful way he gained this gallant soldier’s wife as his own. Such a grievous sin brought the bitterest anguish of heart. David’s confession was not a cold, formal acknowledgment of guilt, but a true and heartfelt humbling of himself before God and a deep cry for pardon and restoration to divine favor as psalms thirty-two and fifty-one clearly prove.
V. As a Prophet
David had a prophetic gift given to few. He was one of those holy men of old moved by the Holy Spirit to set forth many glorious truths related to Christ as Saviour and Messiah. When we come to the New Testament we find the Psalms quoted from more often than any other part of the Old Testament.
VI. As a Type
Not only did David prophesy about Christ, he resembled Him in many ways.
For example:
- Both were born in the humble town of Bethlehem.
- Both were of low estate on earth, having no rank to boast of, no wealth to recommend them to the world.
- Both were shepherds—the one caring for sheep, the other for souls.
- Both were sorely oppressed and persecuted but opened not their mouths.
- Both came to kingship. David subdued his foes and had a kingdom stretching from shore to shore. Jesus was born a King, and is to have an everlasting Kingdom.
VII. As a Star
Does not the children’s hymn urge us to be “a star in someone’s sky?” David has lighted many a spiritual traveler on the way to heaven. Glory alone will reveal what his psalms meant to Christ and to His followers in all ages. Yet he is nothing compared to the Sun of Righteousness Himself. None can compare to David’s greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to become our Saviour, Friend and King.
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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP
1 Samuel; Principle #26; 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Determining Heart Attitudes: When we select leaders, we are to use biblical criteria that measure internal Christlike qualities.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0287/
1 Samuel; Principle #27; 1 Samuel 16:14-23
Security in Christ: Though God will discipline us when we persistently sin, we are to take comfort in the fact that it is for our own good and we are secure in His eternal love.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0288/
1 Samuel; Principle #28; 1 Samuel 17:12-28
Jealous Reactions: When we have feelings of anger and jealousy, we must be on guard since these normal emotions can become very sinful.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0289/
1 Samuel; Principle #29; 1 Samuel 17:31-37
Youthful Service: We should encourage young people to be bold and courageous in their service for God.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0290/
1 Samuel; Principle #30; 1 Samuel 17:38-47
Honoring God: When Satan and his evil forces attack us, one of our major goals should be to uphold God's reputation.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0291/
1 Samuel; Principle #31; 1 Samuel 17:48-18:4
True Friendship: We are to honor one another, be devoted to one another, and even be willing to lay down our lives for one another.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0292/
1 Samuel; Principle #32; 1 Samuel 18:5-20:42
Self-destructive Behavior: We must never allow jealousy and anger to go unchecked since both emotions can lead to very sinful and destructive behavior.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0293/
1 Samuel; Principle #33; 1 Samuel 21:1-15
The Power of Fear: When we become fearful, we must be on guard against the temptation to regress to a itudes and actions that are self focused.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0294/
1 Samuel; Principle #34; 1 Samuel 22:1-2
Regaining Spiritual Focus: When we feel alone and isolated, we should refocus our thoughts on who God is and what He wants to do for us when we trust Him.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0295/
1 Samuel; Principle #35; 1 Samuel 22:3-4
Honoring Parents: Adult children are to honor and care for their parents.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0296/
1 Samuel; Principle #36; 1 Samuel 22:5-23
Making No Excuses: When we violate God?s will and in the process hurt others, we are to take full responsibility for our actions.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0297/
1 Samuel; Principle #37; 1 Samuel 23:1-6
Seeking God's Wisdom: When we have to make strategic decisions, we are to pray and seek wisdom from God and His Word.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0298/
1 Samuel; Principle #38; 1 Samuel 23:7-24
Selfish Motives: We must resist the temptation to convince ourselves that God approves of our actions when, in actuality, we are driven by selfish motives.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0299/
1 Samuel; Principle #39; 1 Samuel 24:1-22
False Repentance: Even though we may be overcome with guilt and remorse, we must not automatically conclude that we have experienced true repentance.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0300/
1 Samuel; Principle #40; 1 Samuel 25:1-44
Personal Confrontation: When we see a fellow Christian about to walk out of the will of God, we should be willing to confront that person humbly and sensitively.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0301/
1 Samuel; Principle #41; 1 Samuel 26:1-25
Respect Plus Accountability: We are to respect those who have spiritual leadership roles in the church, but they must still be held accountable for irresponsible and sinful actions.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0302/
1 Samuel; Principle #42; 1 Samuel 27:1-12
Spiritual Regression: We must be on guard against regressing to self-centered patterns of behavior.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0303/
1 Samuel; Principle #43; 1 Samuel 28:1-25
Finishing Well: As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our goal should always be to conclude our lives on earth fulfilling God's will.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0304/
1 Samuel; Principle #44; 1 Samuel 29:1-30:31
Sincere Prayer: We should remember that God, as our heavenly Father, is always available when we sincerely seek His help.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0305/
2 Samuel; Principle #1; 2 Sm. 1:1-24
Loving Our Enemies: When bad things happen to those who have dealt with us unjustly, we should ask the Lord for grace to express sincere sorrow.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0306/
2 Samuel; Principle #2; 2 Samuel 1:25-27
Same-Sex Friendships: When we develop deep relationships within our own gender, we must always keep these relationships morally pure.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0307/
2 Samuel; Principle #3; 2 Samuel 2:1-7:17
God's Sovereign Plan: Though our journey through life includes many human factors, we must remember that God's sovereign plan for each one of us continues to unfold.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0308/
2 Samuel; Principle #4; 2 Samuel 7:18-29
Praying in God's Will: To experience answered prayer, we are to align our praise and petitions with God's revealed will.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0309/
2 Samuel; Principle #5; 2 Samuel 9:1-13
Reciprocal Ministry: We should remember those who have had a special ministry in our lives.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0310/
2 Samuel; Principle #6; 2 Samuel 11:1-3
Vulnerability to Temptation: When we are most vulnerable physically, emotionally, and spiritually, we must be on guard against Satan's attacks.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0311/
2 Samuel; Principle #7; 2 Samuel 11:4-5
From Temptation to Sin: We should take deliberate steps to keep sexual temptation from becoming sinful thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0312/
2 Samuel; Principle #8; 2 Samuel 11:6-27
Ongoing Moral Failure: To avoid continued moral failures, we must openly acknowledge our sin.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0313/
2 Samuel; Principle #9; 2 Samuel 12:1-12
Deceiving Ourselves: We should be especially on guard against self-deception and rationalization when we fail morally.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0314/
2 Samuel; Principle #10; 2 Samuel 12:13-23
The Consequences of Sin: Though the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sins, we should not expect all negative consequences to suddenly disappear.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0315/
2 Samuel; Principle #11; 2 Samuel 12:24-25
God's Unconditional Love: Once we acknowledge our sins and experience God's forgiveness, we should move forward in our lives, relying on God's unconditional love.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0316/
2 Samuel; Principle #12; 2 Samuel 13:1-19
Love or Lust: Men particularly must learn to distinguish between unselfish, unconditional love and selfish, conditional lust.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0317/
2 Samuel; Principle #13; 2 Samuel 13:20-33
Sinful Anger: We are not to harbor intense anger and hatred in our hearts since it can lead to terrible acts of sin.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0318/
2 Samuel; Principle #14; 2 Samuel 13:34-39
Parental Rationalization: When disciplining children, parents should not allow their judgment to become distorted by their own sins.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0319/
2 Samuel; Principle #15; 2 Samuel 14:1-33
Strengths and Weaknesses: No matter who we are or what our circumstances, we must be cautious so that our greatest strengths do not become our greatest weaknesses.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0320/
2 Samuel; Principle #16; 2 Samuel 15:1-13
Ultimate Betrayal: When we are betrayed by those we have trusted, we must remember that the Lord Jesus Christ identifies with our disappointment and pain.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0321/
2 Samuel; Principle #17; 2 Samuel 15:14-16:14
Accepting God's Discipline: When we reap the consequences of our sinful actions, we must willingly accept this as God's discipline.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0322/
2 Samuel; Principle #18; 2 Samuel 18:1-18
The Pervasive Sin of Pride: When we are tempted to be disloyal or to betray someone who trusts us, we should look for indications of pride in our hearts.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0323/
2 Samuel; Principle #19; 2 Samuel 18:19-19:15
Acting Responsibly: There are times when leaders must rise above emotional pain and identify with the needs of the larger community.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0324/
2 Samuel; Principle #20; 2 Samuel 21:1-9
Making Restitution: Though leaders may not be responsible for the evil done by other leaders within their area of accountability, they should attempt to right the wrong.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0325/
2 Samuel; Principle #21; 2 Samuel 24:1-10
A Clear Conscience: We should always seek to have a clear conscience.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0326/
2 Samuel; Principle #22; 2 Samuel 24:11-17
Taking Responsibility: When we see people injured and hurt because of our sinful actions, we should take full responsibility.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0327/
2 Samuel; Principle #23; 2 Samuel 24
Giving Sacrificially: We should seek to please God by offering Him sacrificial gifts.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0328/
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1 KINGS
1 Kings; Principle #1; 1 Kings 1:5-10
Deception and Denial: No matter how much parents love God, they must still guard against being in denial regarding their children's inappropriate behavior.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0329/
1 Kings; Principle #2; 1 Kings 1:11-40
Loving Intervention: Because of our human tendencies to be in denial, we should be accountable to others who love us enough to confront us.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0330/
1 Kings; Principle #3; 1 Kings 2:1-9
Correcting Mistakes: We should do what we can to correct the results of our mistakes before passing our leadership role to our successors.
https://ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/QR/GetzBible/0331/
1 SAMUEL 16-302 SAMUEL 1-241 KINGS 1-1 KINGS 2:111 CHRONICLES 2-4,6-7,9-29PSALMS OF DAVIDPSALMS 3-9PSALMS 11-32PSALMS 34-41PSALMS 51-65PSALMS 68-70PSALMS 86PSALMS 101PSALMS 103PSALMS 108-110PSALMS 122PSALMS 124PSALMS 131PSALMS 133PSALMS 138-145PSALM ABOUT DAVIDPSALM 132PSALM FOR DAVIDPSALM 89ROMANS 4:5-8
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