My soul makes its boast in the Lord – Psalm 34:2 – a psalm by David

David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Paul recounts how God raised up David to be His king, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Samuel said that God was looking for a man after his own heart who would lead God’s people and follow God’s commands (1 Samuel 13:14). David was this king. A man after God’s own heart, who would know God and be obedient to Him. David made many grievous mistakes in his life, but if we look closely, we can see why God said he was a man after His own heart.

David’s Heart – David was the Least Likely

David was the least likely for the job, but God chose him. God does not look at men’s outward appearance but looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God saw something in David’s heart that made him suitable to be a king appointed by God. So, God anointed David to be king.

David Unconditional Trust – David had faith in God

The Israelites were afraid of Goliath, but David bravely inquired about the philistine who defied the army of the living God. David’s inquiry showed that he had more courage than any of the Israelites in the army. David derived his courage from God (1 Samuel 17:24-26). The manner in which David spoke of God implied that David knew God well and he was well aware of God’s limitless abilities. He spoke with absolute confidence in God.

David bravely tells Saul that he will go and fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32). And when Saul warned David that he would not be able to fight this man of war, David told him that God would deliver him out of the hands of this Philistine (1 Samuel 17:33; 1 Samuel 17:37). David had faith in God that he could go out to face this champion. Therefore, from very young David showed that he knew who God was and had faith in Him. So much faith that he was not afraid because he knew that his God would deliver him.

David chose a weapon that he was familiar with and knew he could use it well (1 Samuel 17:39-40). So, he trusted that God would deliver him, but he went prepared to do his very best. He didn’t just walk in and expected God to provide everything. He didn’t take the best military weapon because he knew he was unfamiliar with using it. He placed his best foot forward and used his logic to make wise decisions and then trusted God for the rest. And no matter how impossible the situation looked; David believed in God. This is an exciting example of balancing trust in God and using the assets He has already given us. Reminding us that we can trust Him fully while also making wise decisions.

David tells Goliath that he came to fight him with the God of Israel by his side. He boasts in God. David informed Goliath that he would defeat him with God’s help and through this all will know that there is a God in Israel (1 Samuel 17:45-47). Just like David wrote in Psalm 34:2, he makes a boast in the Lord. He also makes sure that he gives God the glory because he knows that he can only do this with God by his side.

David’s Honesty in Praise – Saul persecutes David

1 Samuel 19:1 tells us that King Saul wanted to kill David and so he fled and was afraid for his life. But as his writings in Psalm shows us, David often turned his fear and worry into praising God, reminding himself that he trusted in an awesome and great God.

For instance, David wrote Psalm 59 when Saul was trying to kill him. It starts with David asking God for deliverance from his enemies and it describes how terrible they were. But in there, he praises God saying

“O my Strength, I will watch for you,
    For you, O God, are my fortress.
My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.”  (Psalm 59:9-10)

And it ends with:

“But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    And a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love” (Psalm 59:16-17)

Psalm 56 starts by describing how bad his situation is, but David praises God in the midst of any turmoil (Psalm 56:10-11). Psalm 34 starts with David blessing, the Lord at all times. Psalm 142 is a desperate cry for help to the Lord. But David also reminds himself that God is his refugee (Psalm 142:5). The place where he can run for help. David continues to seek God’s counsel (1 Samuel 23:2). God continued to save him from Saul (2 Samuel 23:14) and David continued to trust God for his protection.

David’s Reverence for God – David Spared Saul

Eventually, God delivered Saul unto David, but because Saul was the Lord’s anointed, David spared his life (1 Samuel 24:4-11). When Saul realised that David could have killed him and he didn’t, Saul admitted that David was more righteous than he was (1 Samuel 24:17). They temporarily reconciled, but later on, Saul wanted to kill David again. A second time David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he recalls that no one who stretches a hand towards God’s anointed is guiltless (1 Samuel 26:9). So, Saul was spared again. Eventually, when Saul died, David grieved his death even though Saul sought to kill him and cause him to be on the run for a long time (2 Samuel 1:17). He even sent messengers to thank the men of Jabeshgilead, who buried Saul’s body. David had great respect for God’s anointed.

David put God first in what he did. When his wife rebuked him for uncovering himself in public, he told her that it was his Lord who had blessed him and so he shall rejoice before Him.

David’s Submission in Repentance – David did evil in the Sight of the Lord

David sinned against God with Bathsheba and killed her husband. David’s actions displeased God (2 Samuel 11:27). Nathan the prophet came to address David about this. Nathan told David about a rich man who took advantage of a poor man. This account made David very angry and he was ready to kill the rich man for his wrongdoings. Then Nathan revealed that this rich man who wronged the poor man was David himself. And Nathan reminded David that God anointed him as King over Israel and saved him from the hand of Saul, and God blessed him with riches and wives. Yet still, he did evil in the sight of the Lord and killed Uriah and took his wife. God laid punishment before David by raising up evil in his own house. Then David repented, and Nathan told him that God had put away his sin and that he will not die, but there were consequences to come. He was told the child born of adultery would die (2 Samuel 12:1-14). But God had much mercy on David for he could have died for the evil he did.  

When the child was born and became sick, David fasted and prayed for the child, but he still died. Even though God has forgiven David, there were still consequences. David’s reaction to his child’s sickness and subsequent death was admirable. David sincerely prayed for the child, just in case God decided to spare him. However, the child still died, and David accepted it and praised God anyway (2 Samuel 12:15-20).

David’s Compassion – The Downfall in David’s house

Absalom, David’s son, killed Amnon (another of David’s sons) because Amnon raped their sister. After this, Absalom fled from David. Even though he killed his son, David had a longing to reconcile with Absalom and eventually, David accepted him when Absalom returned. However, Absalom tried to undermine David and take over the kingdom. This caused David to flee from his kingdom for fear for his life. Absalom disrespected his father and wanted to kill him. But in David’s attempt to take back his kingdom, Absalom was killed, and this greatly grieved David. David had a heart that cared deeply for his sons, even when his sons did wrong to him, he still wanted good for them. David grieved deeply for his sons showing how much he cared for them.

David’s Steadfastness – Instructions for Solomon

When David was about to die, he instructs Solomon, his son (1 Kings 2:1-9). He told him to walk in the ways of the Lord, keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules and his testimonies according to the bible, and that this would cause him to prosper in everything. David believed in his heart that God’s way is perfect, and this was the answer to success.

David’s Praises – David in Tribulations

During many of the tremulous times David experienced, he wrote many Psalms of praises and prayers to God. The psalms show us the pains and struggles which David was experiencing, but through it all David did not fail to give God praise. David praised God through pain and uncertainly and God never failed him.

In Psalm 63, David expressed his deep desire for God. He was thirsting after the Lord. He was seeking after God, for he said that God’s love is better than life (Psalm 63:3). In Psalm 52, David expressed his distaste for the evil that men boast. And he counters that with God’s steadfast love.

These Psalms show how, in desperate times, David praised God and sought after Him. He had great faith in God’s ability to overcome his situation and to deliver him from his worst enemy. David on several occasions demonstrated that he had compassion for people and hated evil. God too loves us dearly and cares for us with great compassion. God hates the evil actions of man in a similar way (Proverbs 6:16-19). Proverbs 8:13 says the fear of God is the hatred of evil. David had a fear of God because he knew who God was, and he knew his ways. Let us aim to have a heart after God’s own heart.

In summary, David:

• Boasted of God
• Loved God
• Believed in God’s ability
• Praised God
• Prayed to God
• Thirsted for God
• Sought after God
• Hated man’s evil
• Had compassion for people

These actions of David show why God called him a man after God’s heart.

All photos by Kyle