David’s life is one fascinating read. There’s something about him that makes us look twice, then think longer. I am definitely one of those who’d love to unravel the layers of this man, knowing him on a deeper level. This once modest shepherd turned crowned king piques our curiosity not only because of his extraordinary life’s journey –his rise from obscurity to prominence- but more so because of this loving tenderness with which God described him: “David, a man after my own heart.” Surely, there are countless servants God is endeared to, but no one captured the heart of God as David did, not that He loved his other servants less—but the way God described him is somewhat special, distinctive in its own right. It is the most intimate description ever ascribed to God’s servants.
As Christians, we desire to be cherished by the Lord— because for the faithful, nothing in this world can compare to the joy of being loved by the One who breathed life into us. So we can’t help but wonder..what made God love David that much? To think that David committed horrible sins that brought him troubles.
The house of David was for a time under the Lord’s searing chastisement, as a result of his disobedience to God’s law: adultery and murder–grievous sins that compelled God to impose fierce discipline on David and his household.
You may say: It’s because David did not yet commit those sins when God described him as a man after His own heart.” You’re right.
'I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22
You have a point, but isn’t God omniscient? He already foreknew everything that would happen. Don’t you think God wouldn’t be privy to what the future would be for one of his most beloved servants?
So, considering he, too, is a sinner just like everyone else, what is it about David that nudged the Lord to describe him with such tenderness? To get the most appropriate answer I can find. I did my research, watched pastors' lectures and speeches about David ( there’s one attribute, though, that stood out the most–which will be revealed later).
To learn more about the man, I started with the Book of Psalms, in which David is believed to have authored 73 Psalms.
The Book of Psalms can be considered as a repository of David’s inner life and spiritual journey: his sentiments, joys, grief, shame, failures, triumphs, love, and all sorts of emotions that revealed who he was as a man, a warrior, a leader, and a child of God.
Getting acquainted with David’s inner life through his written work will enable us to grasp the depths of his character, probe his inner nature, and his heart. The deeper we dig, the closer we inch toward answering that question everyone’s wondering about.
Qualities of David That Endeared Him Most to God
Reading the Psalms and understanding the verses in Scripture about David, we can say that he possessed the following qualities that won God’s heart.
Humility
Whenever David sinned against God, he’d be on his knees, bowing himself before the Lord, humbling himself to seek His forgiveness. And David's meekness is evident not only in his interactions with the Almighty but also with ordinary people.
At the time when King David fled the palace with his entourage after his son, Absalom, managed to mount a military rebellion against him, he came across Shimei. He badmouthed King David as he passed, cursed at him, pelting rocks at him and his followers. One of David’s generals was so infuriated that he begged David’s permission to cross over the ravine and kill Shimei, a civilian, a relative of Saul. But David declined the request. Being mocked in front of others, especially if you’re an authority figure, is embarrassingly painful and humiliating. But David, despite bearing the distinction of a king, carried himself with humility, not ego.
That struck a chord with me. Don’t we all detest being humiliated in public? Especially in front of people we love. David’s meekness is that rare kind of humility God is drawn to.
A Heart of Repentance
There are moments in our lives when we try to justify our errors before God. David never did so. The moment he realised his mistakes, he would be on his knees, with no excuses, begging God for forgiveness and taking responsibility for his lapse in judgment.
“For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
And done what is evil in your sight;
So you are right in your verdict.
And justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
You taught me wisdom in that secret place.” Psalm 51:3-6
David’s Great Faith in God
David demonstrated his faith in God on numerous occasions. Even as a young shepherd, his faith in the Lord was boundless. As young and inexperienced in battle as he was, he volunteered to fight Goliath, the enemy whom even the Israeli army feared fighting.
But David’s faith in the Lord was bolder than his fear; the weight of fear bent beneath his rock-solid confidence in the power of the Almighty, enabling him to come face to face with a mammoth of an enemy like Goliath.
“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.” 1 Samuel 17:45 NKJV
Faith is stretched when life is hard, whether confronting a formidable enemy or facing life’s troubles. Our pain sharpens our faith, bitter, yes, but also necessary. And throughout David’s life, even when chafed by agonising struggles, his faith remained strong, and his lips were always lifted in praise to the Lord.
Glorifies God
In every battle, in every victory, David never failed to attribute all his successes to God.
And he always made sure to give glory to God in front of his people and his enemies.
"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." 2 Samuel 6:14-15 NIV
Now more than ever, we should not flinch or crouch in fear in praising Him. As more and more people mock God, belittling and shaming those who exalt and magnify the Lord in public, we must muster the courage to worship Him even when we’re being shamed for doing so. I just remember how David’s wife castigated him for prancing and whirling like a fool in front of his people as he broke out into a dance praising the Lord.
Loyalty
We could say that David possesses qualities that are endearing to God, but if there’s one quality that stood out, it’s his enduring loyalty to the Creator. This realization came about when I came across a lecture by the late Michael S. Heiser, a Bible scholar and author. He highlighted David’s best quality that captured God’s affection: his unshakeable allegiance to God.
You see, in ancient times, most kings or figures of authority were predisposed to worship pagan gods or allowed their subjects to elevate these false gods. Even King Solomon did so. But not David. It shouldn’t then surprise us that the first commandment requires just that: undivided devotion to the Lord.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3 KJV
If rulers in this world demand loyalty from their subjects, why wouldn’t God require the same? We all know that a country thrives in peace when its loyalty is given to leaders who lead with wisdom and integrity. It is the same in God’s kingdom, according to theologian Michael Heiser.
When the sons of God rebelled against the Lord and shifted their allegiance to Satan, chaos ensued in the heavenly realm.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought with his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9 KJV
Thus, it’s written:
“ Behold, He putteth no trust in His saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight.” Job 15:15 KJV
That’s why we are saved by faithfulness alone, not by good works. God has a soft spot for loyalty. And even regular folks like us— don't we desire loyalty and devotion from the people around us, especially from friends and loved ones?
However, this does not mean that we can freely sin whenever we want to. No, that’s not how it works. Because if we truly put our faith in the Lord, the Holy Spirit will convict us whenever we attempt to deviate from His holy path. It’s not that we’ll stop sinning altogether. We won’t. We’re still humans, at risk of faltering now and then. However, over time, we’ll sin less—and when we do, the conscience, awakened by the Spirit within us, will make us repentant, and increasingly transformed until we become like His Son, Jesus.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 KJV
David must have sinned a few times, but he never withdrew, under any circumstances, his allegiance to the Lord. He worshipped no one but God alone. And his faithfulness and loyalty never wavered until he breathed his last.
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/ Patrick Schneider
