We read in Acts13:22 and 1 Samuel 13:14 that David was a man after God’s own heart. We have already seen that he was a man of prayer. But he was far from perfect.
Read the Psalms that David wrote (David is specifically noted as the author of Psalms 3 to 9, 11 to 32, 34 to 41, 68 to 70, 51 to 65, 101, 86, 103, 108 to 110, 124, 122, 133, 131 and 138 to 145. He is also credited with Psalms for which he is not specifically noted as the author, chief among these is Psalm 119). You will note that in many cases David seems angry with God and tells Him so. But then halfway through the psalm David begins to praise God. There is a lesson there.
But David was a man. He took more wives than he should have. He murdered Uriah to cover up his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. You may have done some stuff of which you are ashamed but I would bet David has you beat in the sin department. The result of the affair with Bathsheba was a son whom the Lord took.
But then we read one of the more amazing passages in the Word of God, 2 Samuel 12:21. David and Bathsheba have another son, and the Lord loved him. Think of all of the mess that David made. Based on what Christ said in Matthew 5:31 – 32, this is technically still an adulterous relationship, but God loved the son that was born out of this sin. So much that He had Nathan tell David to name the boy, Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord.
David, the man who is described as one after the heart of God, a flawed human. God, one who loves those who are flawed. This is a great story in which we get to participate.
But David was a man. He took more wives than he should have. He murdered Uriah to cover up his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. You may have done some stuff of which you are ashamed but I would bet David has you beat in the sin department. The result of the affair with Bathsheba was a son whom the Lord took.
But then we read one of the more amazing passages in the Word of God, 2 Samuel 12:21. David and Bathsheba have another son, and the Lord loved him. Think of all of the mess that David made. Based on what Christ said in Matthew 5:31 – 32, this is technically still an adulterous relationship, but God loved the son that was born out of this sin. So much that He had Nathan tell David to name the boy, Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord.
David, the man who is described as one after the heart of God, a flawed human. God, one who loves those who are flawed. This is a great story in which we get to participate.
"The Making of a Man of God" on the life of David was one of the first books I read as a young, growing believer and it has marked my life since then, along with countless Psalms.
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At the same time, because of his prominent position, his failures were also great. They affected his followers and then as the King of Israel they effected the destiny of his entire nation - for all time.
I personally would not wish his throne and all it's glory if it cost my family as it did his. Even the very favored son, Jedidiah set out well, but ended tragically, causing the split of the nation that caused endless strife that has never been healed. He had a daughter raped and sons murdered by other sons. Not what any father could wish.
One lesson is, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, to "not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (Gal. 6:7)
David was fully forgiven, as all of us in Christ are, for our holy God has laid ALL (as in "every one") of our sins on His Son on that bloody cross. But that harvest is still here as well - lest we be complacent and assume that "it doesn't really make any difference," as I have heard supposed believers say.
It is a great encouragement to me that David, as flawed as He was, counts as the greatest descendent any man could have, "Jesus Christ, the son of David...." Matt.1:1
How great is His grace, to me, to us all!