A Man After God’s Own Heart? WHY?

“David was a man after God’s own heart,” we’ve heard for years.

But why?

What made such a notorious man so dear to God’s own heart?

I’ve pondered this question for a recent talk.

Here are some ideas.

Does God love a shepherd’s heart?

Born Jesse’s seventh and final son, David grew up in Bethlehem of Judea.

With one heir and five spare sons ahead of David, Jesse assigned him a task that kept him away from home.

The youngest son guarded the family’s sheep.

David learned what it meant to care for a flock of unruly, self-indulgent, stupid sheep.

A sheep has no way of protecting itself except by stumbling back to its shepherd.

If they’re blind, or even if they’re not, they can’t find their shepherd unless he calls for them in a voice they recognize.

Being a shepherd requires attention, but also provides plenty of time to think.

God’s own heart communed with a young man on a hillside.

David spent most of his time outdoors with no one to talk with except God.

But out in the Judean hills, David cultivated a relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

He poured out his heart to God—sharing with God his delight in living outdoors, guarding the sheep, honing his sling skills, and playing the small harp he toted on his back.

While talking to God, singing psalms, and praising his Creator, David came into his own as a man after God’s own heart.
His older brothers ignored and dismissed him.

Some might wonder if his father even knew his name—since he didn’t mention David the day the prophet Samuel stopped in Bethlehem to sacrifice to God

Samuel recognized David as the next king of Israel to whom God specifically sent Samuel to anoint.

Scripture doesn’t tell us, but it’s possible that David only discovered God had created him for something significant when Samuel anointed him.

Knowing God had plans for him, what did David do with that information?

He returned to guarding the sheep.

Humility always touches God’s heart.

Did he look like someone after God’s own heart?

Yes and no.

David’s life after Samuel’s anointing boils down to bullet points:

• Personal praise leader for King Saul.
• Slayer of Goliath
• Philistine killer extraordinaire
• The subject of “hit song” throughout the region: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (Per Pastor David Guzik)
• Son-in-law of King Saul.
• A close friend of Crown Prince Jonathan.
• Husband of a disgruntled wife, Michal
• The object of King Saul’s hate, thus an expert spear dodger.
• Fugitive in Israel.
• Leader of a large band of disgruntled men
• Would-be murderer of the fool Nabal.
• Husband of three women at the same time: Ahinoam, Michal, and Abigail.
• Fugitive who lived and worked among the same Philistines–who were Israel’s greatest enemy at the time.
• Bandit, murderer, and raider—with 600 followers plus their wives and children—on Israel’s southern borders.
• Successor in exile of King Saul.
• Regretful fighter against King Ishbosheth (Saul’s only remaining son)
• Crowned king of Israel
• Continual fighter against Israel’s enemies.
• Husband of more wives, had many concubines, fathered many children—and head of an unruly household.
• Adulterer with Bathsheba; the murderer of her husband—one of his mighty men
• A broken-hearted, chastened, humble sinner
• Relieved recipient of God’s forgiveness.
• Lover of God
• A thrilled dancer before the ark of the covenant.
• Temple planner
• Poor and indulgent father
• Outraged father at daughter’s rape by her half-brother
• The focus of son Absalom’s attempt to usurp David’s throne
• Desperate father fleeing his throne.
• Thankful for God’s mercy
• Rests with his God
• The ancestor of the “Son of David,” the Messiah.

Why did God love such a man?

David’s life wasn’t perfect.

He frequently fell short of the glory of God throughout his life.

With such checkered behavior, what made David so special?

He knew the deep love of God, his salvation. David knew that confessing his sins, asking for forgiveness, and worshipping God would refresh his soul.

And God met him in those moments of deep humility and regret.

David let God see his soul–God knew what was in it anyway.

He never stop talking with God; David told God exactly what he thought and felt.

He knew his God from all those years of freely communicating with Him.

Can we be people after God’s own heart?

God loves us just as much as He loved David.

His salvation, His Yeshua, is found, over and over again in the Bible.

We can be honest and pour out our hearts to God.

We can tell him everything about the soreness of our souls, about our disappointments, about our fears.

He already knows them.

When we confess our sin, He forgives us.

And He loves us.

Our Kingdom is coming– a place with a mansion for us, no more sorrows, no more pain.

All we have to do is ask.

Jesus, our Yeshua, our salvation, has gone ahead to prepare a place.

The key is humbling our souls before God and recognizing His forgiveness.

Thanks be to God.

(From a talk given at The Lutheran Women Missionary League Convention; June 11, 2022)

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