10 Reasons David’s Called “A Man After God’s Own Heart”
(Part 6 David Was Humble)
“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22)
Study most of the kings recorded in the Old Testament and you’ll find most had one thing in common, they all were lifted up with pride, which pride eventually destroyed them. Contrast David’s humbleness against Pharaoh’s pridefulness, what would we see? Pharaoh was hardened because of the things God did in Egypt. God gave direct command to Pharaoh of Egypt saying, “Let my people go that they may serve me” (see Ex. 5:1-10:4). It was Pharaoh’s pride that kept him from making a wise choice. Of course, the Lord used the pride of Pharaoh’s heart to accomplish His will (Rom. 8:28; 9:17). King Belshazzar’s pridefulness (Dan.5), who knowing full well what happened to his father king Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4) still did not humble his heart but was filled with pride (5:23). The handwriting was on the wall, and Belshazzar died and his kingdom went to Darius the Mede (5:30). What of king Saul’s pridefulness? He hated David because of his ability in battle and because the people sang of it (1 Sam. 18).
Then there was David one king who, despite all his shortcomings, remained loyal throughout his life to his God. This king was a man after God’s own heart and did not walk in pride (Acts 13:22).
Through David we learn that it’s never too early to walk humbly before God. In 1 Samuel 16 we learn of God’s intention for David the youngest son of Jesse. God tells Samuel to invite Jesse to the sacrifice and tells Samuel, “…you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you” (1 Sam. 16:3). Jessie’s sons pass before Samuel one by one, each rejected by the Lord who tells Samuel, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). We know that it’s not our beauty, our strength or our age or position in life that God wants, but our hearts. Now there is one more son of Jesse, the youngest, David, and when he comes by he was described as, “…ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam. 16:12-13).
This was David who showed his humbleness when he faced the giant Goliath for David knew the battle was the Lord’s. Goliath was the champion of Philistia, a giant of a man, measuring some 11 feet and 4 inches (1 Sam. 17:4-7). When he hurled insults against the army of Israel (vs.8-10) and, “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid” (v.11). What was David’s reaction? David was not afraid. He had been sent to the battle by his father with food for his older brothers who were part of Saul’s army (vs.17-20) and when David declares, “…For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v.26), he is ridiculed by his oldest brother (v.28). But this little lad declares his intention to fight Goliath (vs.29-39), goes forth to fight Goliath with his staff, five smooth stones, and his sling in his hand (vs.40-50). Then we see David confronting Goliath saying, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (vs..45-47).
What gave David this great courage when everyone else was so afraid? It wasn’t pride in himself, or in his own ability for his words, “for the battle is the Lord’s”, is proof enough. No, it was his deep faith in the eternal, omnipotent God of Israel. What does a humble man do when faced with his own sin? David humbled himself many times during his reign. Remember his sin with Bathsheba? David is guilty of adultery. “Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child” (2 Sam. 11:4-5). Then David has Uriah killed “14 In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die” (2 Sam. 11:14-15). When confronted by the prophet Nathan, when his sins were outlined (2 Sam. 12:7-12) this king has two choices. He could do as many kings before him and pridefully turn away, ignoring his past sins and receive God’s condemnation, or he could repent. That is what a humbled heart does, and that is exactly what David did. “So 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” (v.13). We know David paid a price for his sin, for his first born son, even after David, “…pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground”, “would not, nor did he eat food”, “on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died”, and when David heard the son died he, “…arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped” (2 Sam. 12:15-20).
David’s target was the approval of God. That takes a humble heart–a heart which is ready to hear criticism, which is willing to bow down before its Creator, and ready to be molded. Consider his prayer in Psalm 51: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge” (Psa. 51 1-4). Verse 7 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity…”, Verse 10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (vs.16-17).
David though a king, was humble enough to admit, “I have sinned”, and he knew he could do nothing to “make” his heart pure – only His Creator could change his heart and make it clean. David knew that not “bribe” could turn God’s face toward his sin. How many today say, “God, if you do this, I promise to…”? What God truly desires is a broken spirit, the one which seeks the Lord’s will and not its own – and David was humble enough to realize that.
There are only two paths in regard to this. The path David took, and the path Pharaoh took. Paul wrote, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). Most today follow in the spirit of Pharaoh in that their hearts are filled with pride like the psalmist said, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished” (Prov. 16:5). When face-to-face with the word of God which commands them to discontinue a sin or exposes a practice to be sinful, they harden their hearts as did Pharaoh. The few follow the example of David.
David’s example is a great road map for how we are to live humbly before the Lord.
Love
Dave Scarpino
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12)