In the course of our lives, we may meet diverse people and we build relationships with many of them. There may even be some whom we meet for the first time and instantly connect with. We recognize there is something in common we share with the person.
We call a relationship such as this ‘a person of our own heart’ as we can click instantly and deeply with this person we are connected with. ‘A person after our own heart’ refers to someone who has similar values, interests or beliefs as us. The dictionary defines such a man or woman after our own heart as someone who likes the same things or behaves in the same way that we do.
An example of such a relationship was that between David and Jonathan. But David did not just have such a bond with Jonathan. He was a man after God’s own heart. Through his life, we learn that God deeply values His relationship with His children and people. In a recent sermon by Pr George Dass, he shared the lessons we can gain from studying this aspect of David’s life.
Though David is regarded as an icon of faith, he was not a perfect man. Pr George shared that we would like to associate with the positive side of David and not the negative side of him but there are lessons here as well. Yet, despite his faults, God accorded to David the honorific “a man after His own heart”. What made God refer to David as a man of His own heart despite David’s failures?
1 Samuel 13:14 (to Saul)
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will. ‘
The Failures of David
Pr George conveyed that though David is rightly honoured for his good qualities, we cannot neglect David’s sins. The sins that David committed were serious and it brought consequences. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then planned and carried out Uriah’s death, breaking two of the Mosaic commandments in the process (Exodus 20:13, 14), and later, he married Bathsheba.
Though there is forgiveness for sin, it does not mean there are no ramifications of sin. God doesn’t offer any of us a bed of roses every time we confess and repent. The sowing and reaping principle will sometimes apply. The child that Bathsheba conceived with David died despite David’s fasting and desperate prayers.
In addition, David’s family was a dysfunctional one. He had too many wives and too many children to provide sufficient parental direction and guidance, and David did not provide that guidance. Again, the consequence of this would come upon him through his sons Amnon and Absalom.
Yet, despite his failures, what made God refer to David as “A man after my own heart?” People talk so much about King David in terms of respect despite all these failures. The Bible does not mince words, yet it also recorded that David loved God with all his heart and soul and that he was one with God in loving what God loves and hating what God hates.
The Qualities of David
Despite his failures, David had some deeply-rooted good qualities. We can see many of these when we study his life.
1. Integrity
David was a man of integrity. Integrity is what you are when nobody’s looking. David was a man who faced reality and remained responsible when nobody was looking. For the most part, he was upright in all that God commanded, keeping God’s ordinances, to the extent that during the reign of David’s son Solomon, God could say to Solomon;
1 King 9:4-5
4 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
2. A Broken Spirit and a Contrite Heart
David’s heart could also be seen in his broken spirit and contrite heart, especially each time he committed a sin.
Psalms 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Despite his mistakes and his challenges, both as a young man and as a king, David had a heart that was sensitive to the things of God. When he did wrong, he admitted it immediately, and his conscience went into deep anguish. He did not find excuses for himself, but rather the anguish would come because he had wronged the One he loved. When you are a person after God’s own heart, you will be concerned about those things that displease God and you will long to please Him in your actions.
3. Humility
As a young man, David was faithful in keeping his father’s sheep. God saw that humility. He saw a servant’s heart. It was as if God was saying, “I don’t care about the charisma you have. I don’t care about your status or stature. I don’t care about your impressive track record. I am looking for a man of character. I am not impressed with externals.” The questions were ‘Was David willing to be a servant?”, “Was he authentic or a hypocrite?” When you have a servant’s heart, you’re humble.
4. Totally Dependent on God
1 Samuel 30:6
6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Above all, David was a man who was totally dependent upon God. The key to David’s strength was that he acknowledged God as his source. David learned to trust God and leaned on God.
David’s heart overflowed with gratitude and the psalms he wrote described his pain, anguish, longing for God, joy, dependence on God, sadness, sorrows, tears, and repentance.
What can we learn from David and become a people after God’s own heart?
Firstly, David had trust and transparency in his relationship with God. He had a willingness to admit his mistakes. This transparency is something we can learn to develop in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Secondly, though David sinned, he did not continue in his sin. His repentance was authentic. While David sinned greatly, he did not sin repeatedly.
Thirdly, David walked humbly before God and men. Though he was a king, he did not behave like a feudal lord. Instead, he was close to the people and he served them from a servant’s heart. He loved his people and he looked upon his kingship as a position of responsibility and service to the people of God. We need to have the fear of God to walk humbly before God and to walk justly and to love mercy.
Ponder on these questions as we reflect on this topic of growing to be a people after God’s own heart:
- David was not a perfect man. In your opinion, does God demand perfection from His people? Why?
- Though David committed serious sins, God accorded to him the title “a man after God’s own heart”. What do you think makes the difference, more than even perfection?
- What are the challenges you face in growing to be a person after God’s own heart?
- From David’s life, through all its imperfections and flaws, he had certain qualities that shaped him to be a person after God’s own heart. What do you think developed these qualities in him? How can we develop the same qualities?
- What are the rewards of being a person after God’s own heart?
Above all the standards of perfection, God values a deep and intimate relationship with us. This has been so even as far back as the Garden of Eden. The heart of God is that of a father. As children of God, it is appropriate we respond with the same love, heart of intimacy, and transparency in our relationship with our Heavenly Father – to be in such accord with Him, that we may also be known as a “people after God’s own heart”.
This reflection is inspired and to a large part guided by a sermon shared by Pr George Dass at Kajang Assembly of God on 20th April 2024. This is an independent initiative and the church of Kajang Assembly of God is not directly connected with this article. For Pr George’s full sermon, you may visit https://www.youtube.com/live/aWQl45j7gtY?feature=shared&t=3420
|Share The Good News|
Leave a Reply