10 Reasons David’s Called “A Man After God’s Own Heart”
(Part 9 David A Portrait of Leadership)
“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)
There cannot be a higher praise from God Himself than to hear Him say, “You are a man after My own heart”. Just to imagine that, God, might say this of any of us should cause goosebumps, chills and the deepest resounding rejoicing ever. Obviously, David knew this kind of feeling for he used the phrase “rejoice” many times in the Psalms, many that directly portray how a good leader must place their reliance on the LORD. David, king of all Israel, found comfort in God’s protection. “Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice” (Psa. 63:7). “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” (Psa. 9:2). “But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” (Psa. 13:5). “But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly” (Psa. 68:3).These and many more like them give us a clear sense that David the king of Israel, is a great leader because he knows the name of the LORD Most High. Almost every one of our nations great leaders has made it clear that God was behind their successes. Abraham Lincoln said, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.” The psalmist wrote, “100I understand more than the [q]ancients, because I keep Your precepts. 101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. 102I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. 103How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.” (Psa. 119:100-106). David was a great portrait of leadership because he sought to keep God’s precepts, run from evil, listened to the teachings from God, hates false ways, allows the word of God to guide, and in his heart is a confirmation to keep God’s righteous judgements.
A great leader must “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11). Leaders who are high and mighty, who believe they have all the answers, that their way is always the right way will never have what David had. The Creator of all things to guide, direct and when necessary, carry them. The reason is simple: When in a close relationship with God you’ll have the omniscient God as adviser. David wrote, “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Psa. 25:14). The quality of fearing God is necessary for one to be a good leader of others. “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Psa. 147:10-11).
A teacher once told me that you may be the best in the world at what you do, but make no mistake there is always someone better than you. If we can understand this with man, we can take this one step further, and know that God is greater than all and if we accept His guidance we can never go wrong. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (Psa. 103:11). “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). Could you name another who would have a greater ability than the all-knowing, all-powerful God, Creator of heaven and earth to help you as a leader? Is it any wonder that David’s son, Solomon concluded, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13). Jesus was the spiritual son of David (Matt. 1:1, 21:9; Rom. 1:3) and He taught, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:5). Every good leader understands these basic things which will guide them in the right way, David knew these to be true, and this is one thing that made him a great king, and a man after God’s own heart.
In the 19th Psalm one quality of a great leader is love and understanding of the value of God’s laws for mankind. “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psa. 19:8). Israel’s King David was, without a doubt, a great leader. Men were willing to follow him even before he was king, and even when he was on the run and had to hide in the desert. We may never have a chance to be king, but we all will have opportunities to lead in different ways. We all at some point in our Christian lives will be presented with an opportunity to lead someone to Christ. Sometimes we will need to have the patience that David had, because the one God presents to us may be someone that is not so nice.
David knew patience and was willing to wait upon the Lord, another very important trait of leadership.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—Yes, more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6).
Of this trait Isaiah wrote, “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). He was not in any rush to claim his kingdom. He waited for the Lord to direct his paths. Remember those treasured words of David, “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake” (Psa. 23:3). Did you know that David was anointed king three times? The first anointing was a private (secret to king Saul) anointing. Saul remained king for a decade or more, after David was first anointed (1 Samuel 16:13–14) then the second time (2 Samuel 2:1–4) he was anointed king over Judah. The third anointing David was anointed as Israel’s king at Hebron (2 Sam. 5:1-5): “David was thirty years old when he began to reign” (2 Samuel 5:4). Sometimes leaders have to be patient and wait, and sometimes that is hard to do. Another way David demonstrated patience as a leader was in all the events that pertained to king, Saul who spent a fair portion of that time trying to kill David. This forced him to stay on the run, hiding in caves and fleeing to another country. At least twice, David had a clear opportunity to kill Saul, but David didn’t. He knew that God was in control and trusted Him enough to wait on His timing. Listen to David’s own words, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. 13I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14Wait[e] on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:11-14)
In Love
David Scarpino
“Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law.” (Psalm 119:161-163)