For those who might not be familiar with David's story he was chosen as a young man to be the King of Israel. But first he proved himself worthy through multiple trials and challenges. He slay the champion of one of Israel's mightiest enemies, Goliath the giant. He served faithfully under King Saul despite Saul's manic mood swings and even Saul's attempts at ending David's life. He wrote just under half of the Psalm's in the Bible. He also killed a man, Uriah the Hittite, to obtain that man's wife. He lived in non-repentance for that sin for at least a year, then expressed disbelief when confronted with his sin by Nathan the prophet. His family situation was a mess, with one of his children attempting to kill him and take his throne. One of his wife's despised his walk with God, and one of his children raped his half-sister. One of his son's killed his own brother. And yet the Bible tells us that David took no action. (To learn more about this account read 2nd Samuel 13 and beyond) His family leadership was passive at best, destructive at worst.
Like all of us, David was human.
But what made him a man after God's own heart?
I believe that part of why David is called a man after God’s own heart is that he had absolute faith in God. Nowhere in Scripture is this point better illustrated than in 1 Samuel 17 where David as a young shepherd boy fearlessly slew the Philistine, Goliath. Shortly before the duel, we see direct evidence of David’s faith when David says, “‘The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the LORD be with you!’” (verse 37). David was fully aware that God was in control of his life, and he had faith that God would deliver him from impending danger. As we see in Scripture, David’s faith pleased God, and God rewards David for his faithfulness.
Another reason was that David absolutely loved God’s Law. Writing at various and often troubling times in his life, he 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.”
David was a man after God’s own heart in that he was truly thankful. “I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 26:6–7). David’s life was marked by seasons of great peace and prosperity as well as times of fear and despair. But through all of the seasons in his life, he never forgot to thank the Lord for everything that he had. It is truly one of David’s finest characteristics. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4, ESV).
After he was confronted with his sin by Nathan, David was truly repentant. “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.’” But admitting our sin and asking for forgiveness is only half of the equation. The other half is repentance, and David did that as well. Listen to 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).
In conclusion, David was a man after God’s own heart because he demonstrated his faith and was committed to following the Lord. Yes, his faith was tested on a grand scale, and he failed at times. But after his sin he sought and received the Lord’s forgiveness. In the final analysis, David loved God’s Law and sought to follow it exactly. As a man after God’s own heart, David is a role model for all of us.
