A Man After God's Own Heart - (Diane Ward)

Psalm 59:1-13     

My heart is drawn to David, especially in the 59^th Psalm when King Saul had sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

It is said that David was “a man after God’s own heart” - thoroughly human!  He cried out to God in times of fear and despair, acknowledging his sin and sorrow - casting himself on God’s mercy. His life was punctuated with emotional highs and lows. At times he was single-mindedly devoted to God, and at other times his failures were devastating. He fathered Solomon, Israel’s great king, he was also the father of Absalom whose rebellion resulted in bloodshed and grief. Through David’s vulnerable humanity he left an example of passionate love of God. He gave us some of the most beautiful poetry ever written.

In desperate hours we can lean on God, sheltered and cloistered as a mother shields and comforts her child. Isaiah 66:13. When we reach critical mass, ready to explode or implode, David’s exile Psalms ring out a sweet and powerful melody, a message of God’s tender heart toward humanity. With childlike hearts before God (much like my own father,) we find our peace and safety in his faithfulness and compassion, as did King David.

“Lord, why do I wait too long to run to you? Tears flood my broken heart, fears become poison darts until finally I surrender myself to you - My sacrifice is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart that you, God will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

The Story - Chapter 11 - 1 Samuel 16-18

The story of David and Goliath is probably one of the more popular tales in scripture. Chapter 16 and 17 relate the journey of David from youngest brother and mere shepherd to the only man willing and able to face down a giant and come out on the winning side. There are a number of lessons to be learned from these first two chapters in this week’s assignment.

When Samuel is in search of the man who will be king in place of Saul, he is brought face to face with an unlikely monarch in the form of a young boy. Those around Samuel can protest all they want. God makes it clear to Samuel that this is His selection for king.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Those words, “but the LORD looks at the heart,” are gripping words. It doesn't matter what our outward appearance is, it is only what is on the inside that is important to God. It seems to this writer that often people who are extremely kind and obviously close to God, have this glow about them. There is something appealing that draws me to these people – no matter their looks.

It doesn’t take too long for King Saul to be threatened by his young protégé. David seems to be everything Saul isn’t. He is brave and fearless and most important of all, He has God on his side. Saul seemed to know when God turned away from him.

When we behave in a way that is not pleasing to God, when we disobey and turn our backs on Him, we feel a pain in our spirit. Our conscience begins to alert us to the fact we are not on the right path and we either decide to make a course correction, or like Saul, we try to remove the competition. Saul has gone from King to being dethroned by God. David has come from shepherd to the King known as a ‘Man after God’s own heart.’
Read 1 Samuel 16-18 here

Listen to 1 Samuel 16-18 here