A Man After God’s Own Heart?

“But now your kingdom will not last. The LORD has searched for a man after his own heart. The LORD has appointed him as ruler of his people, because you didn't follow the command of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 13:14 GW)

“But the LORD said to him, ‘Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 GNB)

“God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, ‘I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’” (Acts 13:33)

“And if you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:14 GNB)

“In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been.” (1 Kings 11:4 NLT)

“I took the kingdom away from David’s descendants and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David, who was completely loyal to me, obeyed my commands, and did only what I approve of.” (1 Kings 14:8 GNB)

“…except in the case of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5)

“David tore his clothes in sorrow, and all his men did the same. They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of the LORD, because so many had been killed in battle. David asked the young man who had brought him the news, ‘Where are you from?’ He answered, ‘I’m an Amalekite, but I live in your country.’ David asked him, ‘How is it that you dared kill the LORD’s chosen king?’ Then David called one of his men and said, ‘Kill him!’ The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him…” (2 Samuel 1:11-15)

“King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD kept him safe from all his enemies. Then the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Here I am living in a house built of cedar, but God’s Covenant Box is kept in a tent!’ Nathan answered, ‘Do whatever you have in mind, because the LORD is with you.’

But that night the LORD said to Nathan, ‘Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, ‘You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in.’” (2 Samuel 7:1-5 – GN)

Moses David Solomon Jonah Peter

Martin Luther“King of Hops”

C.S. Lewis

“It was my desire to build a temple where the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, but God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor My name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’” (1Chronicles 28:2-3)

“When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong. He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever.” (1Chronicles 17:11-12)

“Then King David went into the Tent of the LORD's presence, sat down, and prayed, ‘I am not worthy of what you have already done for me, LORD God, nor is my family. Yet now you are doing even more; you have made promises about my descendants in the years to come, and you, LORD God, are already treating me like someone great. What more can I say to you! You know me well, and yet you honor me, your servant.” (1Chronicles 17:16-18)

“Then he defeated the Moabites. He made the prisoners lie down on the ground and put two out of every three of them to death. So the Moabites became his subjects and paid taxes to him.” (2 Samuel 8:2)

“In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, his mercenaries, and Israel’s army to war. They destroyed the Ammonites and attacked Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Now, when evening came, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the royal palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, and she was very pretty. David sent someone to ask about the woman. The man said, ‘She’s Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ So David sent messengers and took her. She came to him, and he went to bed with her. (She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period.)”

“Then she went home. The woman had become pregnant. So she sent someone to tell David that she was pregnant. Then David sent a messenger to Joab, saying, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite.’ So Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the troops were and how the war was going. ‘Go home,’ David said to Uriah, ‘and wash your feet.’”

“Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace among his superior’s mercenaries. He didn’t go home. When they told David, ‘Uriah didn’t go home,’ David asked Uriah, ‘Didn’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?’ Uriah answered David, ‘The ark and the army of Israel and Judah are in temporary shelters, and my commander Joab and Your Majesty’s mercenaries are living in the field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and go to bed with my wife? I solemnly swear, as sure as you’re living, I won’t do this!’

“David said to Uriah, ‘Then stay here today, and tomorrow I’ll send you back.’ So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. David summoned him, ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But that evening Uriah went to lie down on his bed among his superior’s mercenaries. He didn’t go home. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is heaviest. Then abandon him so that he’ll be struck down and die.’”

“Since Joab had kept the city under observation, he put Uriah at the place where he knew the experienced warriors were. The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of the people, namely, some of David’s mercenaries, fell and died-including Uriah the Hittite. Then Joab sent a messenger to report to David all the details of the battle. And he commanded the messenger, ‘When you finish telling the king about the battle, the king may become angry. He might ask you…‘Why did you go so close to the wall?’ If the king asks this, then say, ‘Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’ The messenger left, and when he arrived, he reported to David everything Joab told him to say.

“The messenger said, ‘Their men overpowered us and came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate. The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries, and some of Your Majesty’s mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead.’ David said to the messenger, ‘This is what you are to say to Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing trouble you, because a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage him.’”

“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home, and she became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD considered David’s actions evil.” (2 Samuel 11:1-27 – GN)

Uriah “This is the list of David’s famous soldiers.

Together with the rest of the people of Israel, they helped him become king, as the LORD had promised, and they kept his kingdom strong.” (1 Chronicles 11:10 – GN)

“….Uriah the Hittite…” (1 Chronicles 11:26-47 – GN)

How was David looked upon? “…the king is like God’s angel and can

distinguish good from evil” (2 Samuel 14:17 – GN)

“The LORD sent the prophet Nathan to David. Nathan went to him and said, ‘There were two men who lived in the same town; one was rich and the other poor. The rich man had many cattle and sheep, while the poor man had only one lamb, which he had bought. He took care of it, and it grew up in his home with his children. He would feed it some of his own food, let it drink from his cup, and hold it in his lap. The lamb was like a daughter to him. One day a visitor arrived at the rich man’s home. The rich man didn’t want to kill one of his own animals to fix a meal for him; instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared a meal for his guest.’ David became very angry at the rich man and said, ‘I swear by the living LORD that the man who did this ought to die! For having done such a cruel thing, he must pay back four times as much as he took.’

‘You are that man,’ Nathan said to David. ‘And this is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I made you king of Israel and rescued you from Saul. I gave you his kingdom and his wives; I made you king over Israel and Judah. If this had not been enough, I would have given you twice as much. Why, then, have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle; you let the Ammonites kill him, and then you took his wife! Now, in every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriah’s wife.”

“I swear to you that I will cause someone from your own family to bring trouble on you. You will see it when I take your wives from you and give them to another man; and he will have intercourse with them in broad daylight. You sinned in secret, but I will make this happen in broad daylight for all Israel to see.’

‘I have sinned against the LORD,’ David said. Nathan replied, ‘The LORD forgives you; you will not die. But because you have shown such contempt for the LORD in doing this, your child will die.’ Then Nathan went home. The LORD caused the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David to become very sick.” (2 Samuel 12:1-15 – GN)

Saul: “I did obey the LORD…But my men did not kill the best sheep…” (1 Samuel 20,21)

Jeroboam: “Seize that man!” (1 Kings 13:4 – GN)

“I have sinned…”

Embarrassment?Saul: “I have sinned…at least walk with

me…” Fear of punishment?

Saul: “My men kept the cattle…”Adam: “The woman who you made…”Eve: “The serpent who you made…”

True repentance?Sorrow for the action; a desire to

change

“Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins! Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin! I recognize my faults; I am always conscious of my sins. I have sinned against you---only against you--- and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me. I have been evil from the day I was born; from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.

Sincerity and truth are what you require; fill my mind with your wisdom. Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; and though you have crushed me and broken me, I will be happy once again. Close your eyes to my sins and wipe out all my evil.

Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me. Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach sinners your commands, and they will turn back to you. Spare my life, O God, and save me, and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness. Help me to speak, Lord, and I will praise you. You do not want sacrifices, or I would offer them; you are not pleased with burnt offerings. My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart. (Psalms 51:1-17 – GN)

“A curse be on anyone who eats any food today before I take revenge on my enemies.” (1 Samuel 14:24 – GN)

“Samuel heard that Saul had gone to the town of Carmel, where he had built a monument to himself…” (1 Samuel 15:12)

“Saul kept a jealous eye on David” (1 Samuel 18:9)

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.‘” (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Saul & Jonathan “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In

life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” (2 Samuel 1:23-26)

“David asked, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?’…’There is still one of Jonathan’s sons. He is crippled.’…So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table, just like one of the king’s sons.” (2 Samuel 9:1,3,11)

Absalom“During his lifetime Absalom built a

monument for himself…” (2 Samuel 18:18)

“The king was overcome with grief. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went he cried, “O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son! If only I had died in your place, my son! Absalom, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33)

Despite David’s violence, multiple wives, adultery, & murder….he was in striking contrast to any other kings of that time.

David was sincerely repentant to God’s correction

David was God-seeking > self-seekingFor much of the time, David lived in

passionate search of a face-to-face relationship with God

“I thirst for God, the living God; when shall I go to see the face of God?” (Psalm 42:2)

“The LORD is my shepherd…” (Psalm 23) “Teach me your ways, O LORD; make

them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth…I always trust in you.” (Psalm 25:4,5)

“Your constant love is better than life itself…” (Psalm 63:3)

“I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance.” (Psalm 27:4)

“I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15-16)

“I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)