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Visit our new blog. It lists all the new things that we are doing and what new material has been added to our site. We even list new missionaries who sign up with us for technical support so you can pray for them. FCM BLOG

David–A Man after God’s own Heart

David is likely one of the best known and best loved characters in the Bible. The stories about David are favorites for children and adults alike. Once again we see a man who served God, yet was far from perfect. We can learn many important principles from the life of David.

Background:*1 David was born about 1040 BC, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem. Little is recorded of David’s parents. Jesse was apparently of modest means, and there is no record of David’s mother’s name, although there has been speculation that she was Nahash (2 Sam 17:25). David was born near the end of the time of the Judges, a very chaotic and ungodly period in Israel’s history.
About all we know of David’s appearance is he was described as handsome, with red (“ruddy”) hair (1 Sam 16:12, 17:42). David was a shepherd, which out of necessity at the time also taught him fighting skills when defending the flocks from predatory wild animals, including lions and bears (1 Sam 17:34-35). In quieter times, he also developed his musical skills with the flute and harp.

Life and Times:  (found in 1-2 Samuel; 1 Chronicles)
Prior to becoming king:  David first appeared in the pages of Scripture when God directed Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint David as the king. He was shortly thereafter recruited to play the harp for King Saul when he felt depressed. Next we find the story of David’s defeat of Goliath, perhaps the most well-known episode of David’s life. David formed a close friendship with Saul’s son Jonathan. Saul grew suspicious and jealous of David and repeatedly tried to kill him. David had opportunities to kill Saul but refused to lay his hand on the King. David remained a fugitive until Saul and Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines.
David as King: Upon Saul’s death, David went to Hebron where he was anointed as king of Judah, according to the Lord’s instructions, at about age 30. A seven-and-a-half year civil war followed between the forces that supported David and those that supported Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, for the kingship of all Israel. The military and political situation grew steadily in favor of David, and when Ish-bosheth was assassinated, David was anointed king over Israel.
David then moved his capital from Hebron to Jerusalem. Three months later, David brought the Ark to Jerusalem where it was placed in a new tabernacle that David set up for it. Within a relatively short period of time, he ruled from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in the Tigris-Euphrates valley.
David’s Sins:  As has happened with so many great men, David’s success was focused too heavily on material gains, and it corrupted him. His committing of adultery with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband Uriah in an attempt to cover it up was perhaps the darkest event of his life. When the prophet Nathan confronted him about this sin, David truly repented of it, and God forgave him. The child he conceived with Bathsheba died.
David’s troubles were far from over, however. His many wives and children were constantly in fierce competition with each other within the family. One of David’s sons, Amnon, raped his half-sister Tamar, for which the girl’s brother, Absalom, killed him. Absalom later attempted to take over the kingdom, which triggered a civil war. David’s forces were victorious, Absalom was killed and David was restored as ruler in Jerusalem.
David’s last sin was to number the people. This appears to be a failure on David’s part to trust God. After a reign of forty years and six months David died at the age of seventy, “and was buried in the city of David” (1 Kings 2:10-11).

David’s Failures

1. Sin with Bathsheba: At a time when he should have been out in the fields supervising the army he was at home enjoying himself. When he saw Bathsheba taking a bath, he allowed himself to watch her and imagine being with her. Even though he already had many wives and concubines, he could not control his lust. After committing adultery with her, he attempted to cover up the crime by sending for Uriah. When that didn’t work, he ordered Uriah’s death, thus becoming guilty of murder. He did not confess the sins until the prophet Nathan confronted him about it.
2. Family failure:  David was apparently not a very good father or leader of his home. He seemed to ignore his family’s problems. He did nothing when Amnon raped Tamar. He refused to talk to Absalom after he killed Amnon. He was inactive when Absalom was stirring up a rebellion. His great skill as a political leader did not cross over into his family life.
3. Numbering of the people:  70,000 people died as a result of David’s desire to know how many soldiers were in his army. This seems to be an expression of self-confidence and a lack of trust in God.*2
4. Cruelty:  An indifference to the shedding of blood grew into a liking for it, giving rise to acts of gross cruelty (cf. 1 Sam 27:9; 2 Sam 8:2; 16:7-8). Because of the vast quantities of blood he shed, he was called a “bloody man.” This is why God prevented him from building a permanent Temple.

David’s Positive Characteristics
Despite a multitude of faults and failures, David was always a dedicated and repentant man of God who served God’s purpose in that stage of Israel’s history.

1. He loved the Word of God. David composed many of the Psalms. “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (119:97).
2. He was a man of prayer. Many of the Psalms are expressions of prayers (e.g., 3-5, 9, 13, 20, 38, 42, 51). We find David praying at several key moments in his life (e.g., 2 Sam 2:1, 7:18-29; 1 Chr 29:10-18).
3. He respected authority. He held no grudge against Saul and refused to hurt him. “[David said,] The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD” (1 Sam 24:6). After all Saul had done to him, he refused to take revenge and even expressed his sorrow at Saul’s death (2 Sam 1:11-12).
4. He was humble. He seemed to think that being son-in-law to the king was an honor too high for him because he was a poor man from an obscure family (1 Sam 18:18-23). In his prayers he expressed his humility: “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Sam 7:18).
5. He was repentant. When Nathan confronted him about his sins of adultery and murder, he confessed immediately. Psalm 51 is an expression of his sorrow for his sin. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me” (Ps 51:1-3).
6. He served God enthusiastically. His zeal for the Lord was evident in his desire to kill Goliath–“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam 17:26). When he brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem, he celebrated and worshipped with great passion (2 Sam 6:14-15). He wanted to build a permanent temple in Jerusalem (2 Sam 7:1-17).
7. He loved music and fine arts. He was skilled at playing the harp and was a poet of substantial talent. He’s called “The Sweet Psalmist of Israel.”
8. He had a good testimony. “Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David” (1 Sam 18:28). He was called the “Light of Israel” (2 Sam 21:17).
9. He was courageous. While caring for his father’s flocks he killed a lion and a bear, and he killed Goliath, a veteran soldier older and more experienced than he was (1 Sam 17:33). He led a group of skilled fighters and was not afraid to go to war. David wrote, “He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms” (Ps 18:34). All the Israelites had unbounded confidence in his personal courage and military skills (2 Sam 18:3). His soldiers eventually had to restrain his zeal for battle (2 Sam 21:17).
10. He was wise. “David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed” (1 Sam 18:30).
11. He could be gracious and forgiving. David wanted to do something kind for Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. He invited him to live in Jerusalem and eat at the king’s table. Even though Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion, David did not punish him but retained him as a friend (2 Sam 9, 16).
12. He was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). He had serious flaws and weaknesses, but the general trend of his life was toward godliness.

Other Lessons from the Life of David

1. God hates sin and punishes sinners, no matter who they are. David suffered for the rest of his life because of his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Nathan told David, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife” (2 Sam 12:10). God did not permit him to build the temple in Jerusalem because of the vast amounts of blood he shed. Sin always has consequences.

Application:  Expect to be chastened for sin. Sinful choices can ruin your life.

1. Sin in the believer’s life ruins one’s testimony and aids the enemies of God. David’s sin gave “great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (2 Sam 12:14).

Application:  One reason to avoid sin is to prevent the enemies of God from rejoicing.

1. God looks on the heart, not on external appearances (1 Sam 16:7).

Application:  Don’t judge a book by it’s cover

1. God is sovereign over the affairs of men and the events of history. We see God’s hand of guidance clearly displayed throughout the story of David’s life. What are some aspects of David’s life that reveal God’s sovereignty?  Samuel’s anointing David to be king, his defeat of Goliath with one well-place stone, his escaping from Saul, the death of Bathsheba’s first child, the numbering of the people.

Application:   God is sovereignly working out our lives

1. Use your skills in God’s service. David was a talented harpist, an experienced shepherd and became a great soldier and political leader.

Application:  Use your skills to serve God. God has “wired” you with certain abilities.

1. A godly believer is capable of committing almost any kind of sin. Even a “man after God’s own heart” gave in to temptation. Yet when confronted about his sin, David immediately repented.

Application:  We should be repentant over our sins. Listen to leaders who confront you about your sin.

1. Take heed, lest you fall. Although David was specially chosen by God and greatly used of God, he fell to temptation. One moment of weakness caused many years of sorrow and problems. Note that the temptation was visual. Sexual temptation is the downfall of many otherwise good people. Given the right situation, anyone is capable of nearly any sin.

Application:  Stay away from sexual temptation–pornography, movies, TV, immoral relationships, etc. Think about the outcome of your actions. Flee from temptation.

1. Pay careful attention to family matters. David’s own son, Absalom, killed his half-brother and led a political rebellion against David’s administration. David could have prevented such tragedies had he dealt with the problems biblically. He was not a good leader in his household.

Application:   Strive to administrate your household biblically.

1. Be hospitable. David and his soldiers were ready to kill Nabal for his lack of hospitality. Fortunately, Abigail stepped in at a critical time and smoothed things over (1 Sam 25). David invited Mephibosheth, a handicapped man, to eat at his table.

Application:   If the president comes to your house, feed him. Be a generous host. The way to a man’s heart is thru his stomach. Seek to help those in need.

1. Value good friendships. David and Jonathan enjoyed a close personal friendship that stands as an example to us today. David surrounded himself with a group of “mighty men” (2 Sam 17:10).

Application:  Seek to be a good friend. Be loyal to your friends.

1. Trust God. At many points throughout David’s life, we find a remarkable assurance and confidence in God. He was sure that God would use him to defeat Goliath. Psalms 7:1 “ O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust.”

Application:  Trust God.

Conclusion:  What are we to make of David? On one hand he is extolled as a saint, and yet few men have committed worse crimes. We see in his life both great strengths and weaknesses. Repentant believers, even those who struggle with sin, can be very effective in God’s service. Yet sin has a way of negatively impacting one’s life long after the sin has been committed.

Discussion:

1. How could David have avoided his sin with Bathsheba?  He should have been with the army; he could have immediately looked away, he could have thought of the consequences.
2. How could David have been a better husband and father?  By not marrying so many wives, by paying attention to what was going on at home, by responding to Amnon’s rape of Tamar, by trying to defuse Absalom before he rebelled.
3. What are some of David’s positive characteristics?  See above list.