King David

Ruth is a designer and writer who is continually inspired by God’s depth of creativity. From a young age she has enjoyed anything creative, from fashion to photography, self-directed plays to songwriting, designing to painting, and the list goes on! She is currently working as a teacher in South Korea and, today, is sharing her favorite bible character.

DAVID, A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

Throughout my years as a Christian, I have always been drawn to different bible characters based on what God is stirring in my heart. For likeness in name and character: Ruth… for growing my faith: Enoch, Noah, Abraham… for leading as an example in every way: JESUS!

However, in the last year I have been drawn to the real, rawness of Psalms and one of its prominent authors: King David – a man after God’s own heart.

King David was the anointed king of Israel. He was chosen by the Lord while King Saul was on the throne. He was a musician, poet, artist, fighter, and warrior. A man who was in love with God and in love with God’s glory – but he was also easily distracted by temptation. Through the eyes of humanity, he is blemished with committing a dreaded sin, yet in God’s eyes he is a man after God’s own heart.

In Acts 13:22, the apostle Paul speaks of God’s feelings about King David: “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’.”

What an exalted description! One that my spirit so eagerly wants to understand: how can I too be called “A woman after God’s own heart”? To understand how, I delved into what characteristics David had to qualify for such an exalted description…

Consistent faith in God

One of the defining characteristics of King David was his unwavering faith in God. He knew early on in life that God was to be trusted and obeyed. Before he was king, and even before he slayed Goliath, David cultivated a life of faith and reliance on God (1 Samuel 17:37), of which God richly rewarded. Looking at his life, so vulnerably laid out in Psalms, I can’t help but witness that David’s confidence stemmed from his reliance on God’s strength and not his own. It makes me ponder on how often I try to control things and act in my own strength…

A Repentant heart

Despite his many accomplishments, King David was not without flaws. His infamous affair with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah, serve as reminders of his humanity. However, what sets David apart is his genuine repentance and humility. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David acknowledged his sin and sought forgiveness from God. His heartfelt repentance serves as a powerful example of the transformative power of God’s grace and the importance of humility before Him. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance to God: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; 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). Notice how David’s repentant prayer is focused on God’s character. He mentions no excuses, no weighing up his success. He also does not to dwell on his sin but moves forward with a renewed heart. What good does it do if we are humble in prayer yet prideful in accepting the fullness and freedom of grace?

Delighting in and Reflecting on the Word

Writing at various and often troubling times in his life, David repeatedly mentioned how much he loved God’s perfect Word. We find a beautiful example of this in Psalm 119:47-48: “For I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.” As the author of many of the Psalms, these poetic expressions of praise, lament, and worship provide a glimpse into David’s intimate relationship with God. Through his Psalms, David reveals his deep longing for God’s presence, his struggles, and his ultimate trust in God’s faithfulness. He was personal with God. When we share a personal relationship with the Lord, we have ease in repentance freedom to simply chat with the Lord. Are we taking time to meditate, reflect, record, pray, seek, and speak to God openly, fearlessly and freely? Apart from reading God’s Word, we should also be thinking about it throughout the day, for God loves us to think about Him. “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways” (Psalm 119:2-3).

So, here is a man who sinned greatly, yet held such a special title in God’s eyes: a man after God’s own heart. Why do I love King David? Because when I read his Psalms and learn about his life, I see myself – a sinner who has fallen short of God’s glory. More so, I see a gracious God who never turned his face away from David, regardless of his successes and downfalls. King David’s story shows me that God never pushes us away, rather He pushes in. He is not pleased with our perfection but is pleased with our direction. If we re-look at Acts 13:22, the answer to why David was considered a man after God’s own heart is found right in the verse: David did whatever God wanted him to do. What makes him stand out was that his heart posture was consistently pointed toward God, impacting his every decision.