10 Reasons David is Called “A Man After God’s Own Heart”
(Part 1 David Trusts God)
“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)
This issue is the first of ten in a series called, “A Man After God’s Own Heart”. We begin with the words of David as recorded in Psalm 62 verses 9-12 which described the heart of David as seen in his own writings:
David Trusted his LORD: (Psalm 62:9-12) While being humble is critical for every believer, and it is true, David humbled himself (Psa. 35:13), in the 9th verse of chapter 62 the psalmist declares two things, “Surely men of low degree are [a]a vapor…” First note, David is not talking about humility, but rather he is stating that you cannot, must not, put your trust in men because all men, “If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor”. Man, unlike God, just doesn’t have power or ability in himself to keep every promise made or accomplish every goal imagined. Job said, “22 “But God draws the mighty away with His power; He rises up, but no man is sure of life. 23 He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways. 24 They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone. They are brought low; They are [e]taken out of the way like all others; They dry out like the heads of grain” (Job 24:22-24). All men are of “low degree” compared to the Lord. We are helpless creatures though most often well intentioned we must accept James’ advised, “Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15). We often boast arrogantly but remember, “All such boasting is evil” (James 4:16). When the helpless, put their trust in the helpless—it is vanity. Can a baby be helped by a baby? Can the poor lift the poor out of poverty? Can the man who is spiritually naked, be a spiritual mentor to the spiritually naked? Can a worm help a worm to be more than a worm? Bildad rightly asked, “4 How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman…6 How much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?” (Job 25:4, 6). “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD’” (Jer. 17:5). Remember the words of Paul, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Thus, we do well to remember if our trust is placed in the Lord our God, in Him we’ll find our victory.
The second point from king David concerns the “men of high degree are a lie”. David is not saying that all kings or rulers are inherently liars, rather that rulers and kings all make promises they just cannot keep. Of this David says, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in [b]a son of man, in whom there is no [c]help. 4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.” (Psa. 146:3-4). God unlike man is all powerful and will never cease. God will never fail to accomplish what He has spoken. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19). God has the power to make His will always come to pass. He made three promises to Abram. 1. “promised land”, 2. “a great nation” and 3. “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3). God said to Israel (Jacob) “…I will make of you a great nation there” (Gen 46:3). The Jews were delivered out of slavery in Egypt (Exo. 12: 31-36), given a law (Exo. 20:1-17), lead into the promised land (Josh. 1:1-6). Then fulfillment of the promise that, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed”, took place on the “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 2:5, 38-39, 3:24-26; Gal. 3:16, 26-29). Because He is Omnipotent, and Omniscient, what He says happens. This, no man can claim! Every man should be as David who said, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (v.5).
Think of powerful men who were actually proven powerless. Pilate thought he had power and said to Jesus, “Do You not know that I have [a]power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Did Pilate have power? Not according to Jesus whose answer was, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above…” (John 19:10-11). Powerful men often make the mistake of trusting in their own riches and in the end, after it’s too late, learn that riches meant nothing. “…If riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11 God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God” (v.10-11) Luke records Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:13-21) of a rich man who had so many goods and crops that he decided to pull down his existing barns and build bigger ones to store all he had accumulated, then his plan was to sit back and eat, drink and be merry for many years. But God had a different plan and said, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (v.20). The lesson is found in the next verse, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (v.21). A couple of thoughts from Solomon on this: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage” (Prov. 11:28; see also Prov. 23:5). Fact is that “…time and chance happen to them all” (Eccl. 9:11) but have no place in God’s realm for God possesses all things, has power over all things.
Thus, David says, “God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.” (Psa. 62:9). Many feared the Pharisees and Sadducees more than God, thus didn’t follow Jesus (John 7:13, 9:22, 33-34; John 12:42). Powerful rulers whom men followed into the abyss spiritually (Matt. 15:14). Man, even the most faithful, cannot be completely trusted like the Lord our God. The man of God seeks to please God and will recognize, contemplate and come to understand that it is God who holds the future, and not man who is weak and powerless.
Why does David put His trust in the Lord and not men? In verses 5 through 8 David explains, “5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my [c]expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be [d]moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”. David trusted Saul who tried to kill him (1 Sam. 19:1-2, 5, 11, 15). David trusted his 3rd son Absalom, who after commanding the death of his brother Amnon and fled to Geshur, then returns to Jerusalem only to commit treason against his father David the king (2 Sam. 15 and 16).
Make no mistake, trust and faith must imply obedience and belief. Far too many today are falsely taught to “trust only” or have “faith only” not realizing the lie. God has always demanded faith be combined with obedience. Paul questioned the faith of the saints, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?”, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Gal. 3:1, 5:7). Not obeying brings “flaming fire” (2 Thess. 1:8), separates one from the spiritual community in Christ (2 Thess. 3:14), cannot enter His rest (Heb. 3:18), and severe judgement (1 Pet. 4:17; See also: Rom. 2:5-10).
In the Old Testament, Ezekiel repeats the word of the Lord, “‘30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,’ says the Lord God. ‘Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live!’” (Ezek. 18:30-32).
Will you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? who commanded “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Will you obey the Lord out of a good conscience (1 Pet. 3:20-22)? Or will you believe the lie?
Love
Dave Scarpino
“Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.” (Isaiah 50:10)