King David
“But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command [so stated the prophet, Samuel]” (1 Samuel 13:14, NIV).
David was a man after God’s own heart — the Scriptures convey,
However, from the truth of this matter, many people stray.
You see, context is everything, and most certainly so here,
For not everything we sight, is how it may sometimes appear.
Was David really a man after God’s own heart? Yes and no.
Yes, when walking obediently — no, when not doing so.
Remember Bathsheba? Well, David paid dearly for that sin,
Reaping that which he had sown, and suffering deeply within.
But he repented, returned to the Lord, and very humbly,
Walking in accordance with His Lord's will — that being, willingly.
It’s then that he was a man after God’s own heart, then only,
For let’s face it, amidst wilful sinning, such he couldn’t be.
And nor any man amidst wilful sin, incidentally,
For that wouldn’t make sense, and would glorify hypocrisy.
Which is why so many triumphantly and derisively
Point to Samuel’s words here, and ridicule Christianity.
“A man after God’s own heart?! What — that cold blooded murderer?!
What kind of God would say that?” they cry, and I have to concur.
But as I said, context is everything, and certainly here,
And why, friend, the truth of the matter, I have here sought to share.
Many under a cloak of piety have become bold in sin
Simply because of Samuel’s statement being given a wrong spin.
Thus, God and His Word have been blasphemed, brought into disrepute,
And all because some people have bent Samuel’s statement to suit.
Or because they have misunderstood it, or have been misled,
And unwittingly, a wrong interpretation have soon spread.
And that's why they should have pondered on Nathan's statement instead,
Who, in the text below, the nub of the matter, clearly said.
“However, because by this deed you [David] have given great occasion to the enemies
of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die
[so stated the prophet, Nathan]” (2 Samuel 12:14, NKJV).
So, how was David considered a man after God’s own heart?
Well, the intent of his heart was to serve God, not from Him depart.
Secondly, when he sinned, he repented in sincerity,
And also in humility, which is what God wants to see.
One’s character is revealed not by occasional good deeds,
Nor, I must hasten to add, by one's occasional misdeeds,
But by the tendency of one’s habitual words and acts,
Of which the omnipresent, omniscient Holy God tracks.
And that’s where David qualified, unlike Saul — there’s the context,
And yes, the very reason for comparing text after text.
Saul despised reproof, and hardened his heart in impenitence,
Whereas David chose heartfelt humility and repentance.
By Lance Landall
