The Heart of David
This week I taught a Bible study for our small group. My goal was to investigate the heart of David. Our pastor wrote a book by the same title that helped in gaining understanding from the book of Samuel.
Many of us know the story of King David. Defeated a giant in his youth, rose his way up to be the king of Israel leaving a legacy of devotion and leadership that has lasted 3,000 years all the way to today. And if youve read the Bible in the order in which it is written you will know that there was a king before he took power, Saul, and then one that came after him, his son, solomon. Today we are going to search the heart of David, and try to answer some questions.
Questions to answer:
Why did David have God's favor even as a sinful man?
What’s the difference between Saul and David?
Why, after seeing his father and following after Yahweh, then becoming the wisest man in the world, does Solomon marry 700 women and go after other Gods in his latter life? Why was wisdom not enough?
How can we live within God will like David?
DAVID:
Started out spirit filled, unwavering faith, from his youth. Wrote many of the Pslams we gleen as an example from today on how to pray to God, how to love God. Then lustful desires got in the way and he sinned against the Lord many times. He repents and God forgives him. Why?
2 Samuel 11
David sleeps with Bathsheba and kills her husband to cover it up. The lord is Angry.
2 Samuel 24:2-15 / 1 chronicals 21:1-17
David ignored Joab’s advice and took a national census. David’s unauthorized census resulted in God punishing Israel with a plague.
After this mistake David repents, but God sends a profit with a very interesting offer. The profit, Gad, tells David that God is giving him a choice of punishment and he has to choose between 3 options. David picks the plague and within a day 70,000 Isralites are slain by an angel. Davids reaction?
“I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”
Then he builds an altar to the Lord.
Knowing the heart of God and what His will is, we can more easily walk in our purpose He has us here for. Want to know the heart of David? Why he had favor? Seek the heart of Yahweh first and all else will be added! He wasnt forgiven because of his ACTIONS, but his actions were a side effect of his truly repentant heart. The INTENTION is what God looks for.
Acts 13:22
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”
(Another version states) He will do everything I want him to do. (That is doing will of God)
Why is it important to know Gods will? Because scripture tells us so:
Romans 2:17-18
Make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law.
How do we know Gods will? Studying scripture.
One requirement for kingship of Israel is the king must write out the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses, and study them everyday. It is well understood David KNEW what was in the Word and what was expected of him. If you wish to understand the Heart of God, the heart of David is a good place to start. To immulate. David knew Gods will because he studied the scripture.
So after knowing the will of God, David comes up with one of the most prophetic ideas in the Bible. Asking God why His esteem dwells in a tent and not a temple. Hes going to build God a temple!
David’s prayer seems to be challenging Gods instituation. But was it? Perhaps what David proposed was actually meant to ADVANCE Gods institution, not change it.
Psalm 51:1-4 (REPENTING)
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
SAUL:
Started out spirit filled, God fearing. Then pride and self confidence got in the way and he sinned against the Lord many times. He repents yet Israel is torn from him. Why?
1 Samuel 13:9-12
Made a sacrifice only priest are able to perform. Samuel calls him out
1 Samuel 15:3
God told him to go destroy Amalek and all the men, woman, child, animals. Saul took all the animals that were good and destroyed what was worthless. Samuel calls him out for not doing will of Lord
1 Sam 15:20-21
Saul brought back Agag, kings of Alalek, and did not destroy him. So God tore the kingdom is Israel from Saul and at this point he apologizes saying, “I have sinned”
Both men sinned. In fact every man sins, so why did David find favor and Saul did not? It was not the sin or level of evil of that sin, but the response from each man.
1 Samuel 15,
when Samuel rebukes Saul, it is met with resistance and hesitant admission of his mistake. He denied his error and maintained that he obeyed God’s voice (1 Samuel 15:20). It was only after Samuel’s persistence that he reluctantly repents. Saul also tried to blame others rather than take responsibility (1 Samuel 15:21). Even in this repentance, Saul was self-seeking. He did not want to lose face with the people and so requested pardon for his sin and that Samuel would return with him. Saul wanted Samuel to accompany him so that the people would honour him (1 Samuel 15:30).
Saul’s repentance does not bring about change in his life and attitude toward God. Saul seeks and tries to kill David even though it is the wrong thing to do. Saul admits he is sinning by confessing to David, saying in 1 Samuel 26:21,
“Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”
David knew this was not true repentance; but that, Saul would continue to try to kill him.
1 Samuel 27:1, David says in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines.”
Saul’s repentance was temporary, self-seeking, and not true. It was not out of love for God or to glorify him or to turn back from his wicked ways and set his heart on the things of God.
On the other hand David had true repentance. David took his sin seriously. He didn’t try to minimize his sin or make excuses or blame others. He took full responsibility and then changed his ways.
Psalms 51 is a psalm of repentance. Filled with ownership didn’t try to reduce his responsibilities. David’s heart is fully on God.
Psalm 119: 47-48 (shows David’s true love)
David found favor with God because his heart was set on God. He loved God’s word and delighted in them, even though he failed many times and committed sin. Yet, he came back to God humbly, seeking forgiveness and with an open heart to learn from his mistake no matter the cost. In contrast, Saul did not find favor with God because he sought to blame others for his mistakes; he sought the fame he got from the people in pride rather than honor and glorify God. Saul continued in bitterness, seeking to kill David because of his pride.
Saul was against David. David was with God. Saul became against God.
“If you are not for me you are against me.”
Watch who you decide to make your enemies. Enemies of Godly people are enemies of God.
Why was Saul against David? The tormenting spirit from the Lord. Why would the Lord give Saul a tormenting spirit? Was the spirit a side effect of the jealousy? The hatred?
“But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.”
1 Samuel 19:9-10
It wasn’t that Gods spirit in him was now EVIL, but that God removed His Spirit from Saul and allowed an evil spirit to torment him. Likely, Satan and the demons had always wanted to attack Saul; God was now simply giving them permission to do so
Johnathan, saul's son, worked with David to save his life. In this passage he tells David
“I promise by the Lord, the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know. But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the Lord strike me and even kill me if I don’t warn you so you can escape and live. May the Lord be with you as he used to be with my father.”
1 Samuel 20:12-13 NLT
How could the Lord be with Saul and then leave him? Or how could he leave the Lord? The Holy Spirit can’t just leave, right? Once saved, always saved? Was Saul never really saved? Remember this was 1000 years before Christ. The Holy Spirit was not available in those days as it is now. It could be given and taken at the will of God. That is our upper hand.
SOLOMON:
1 kings 8:
Solomon prays to Yahweh as he opens the temple. One of the most persuasive prayers in the Bible, Solomon pleads to God to show the Israelites favor, after acknowledging that He doesn’t have to be there in the house or care about the Israelites. He’s God and no building can contain him.
other lawgivers (notably Moses) begin with a presumption of perfect behavior and warn of the consequences of failure. Solomon begins with the presumption of failure—albeit well-meaning failure—and seeks mercy.
1 Kings 9:
The Lord answers Solomon’s prayer. He appears to Solomon in a dream and promises to abide in the Temple forever. This is not the first time God spoke to Solomon through a dream. The first time being 1 Kings 3:4-15 where Solomon asks God for wisdom to properly lead His people. Being visited in dreams MULTIPLE times, why does he stray?
Solomons lust for women gets him in trouble, just like it did Samson. Right after mentioning Solomon’s love for foreign girls, the chapter restates God’s warning to the Israelites not to consort with them, “lest they turn your heart away to follow their gods.” But Sol won’t listen. With 700 idol-worshipping wives and 300 infidel concubines, Solomon finds himself corrupted in his old age.
Brilliant in the mind, weak in the soul. How could a man so wise do something so unwise? After being warned by the Lord that is his people stray He will destroy the temple. though God appreciates David commitment more, Solomon’s rewards are greater: He’s richer, his land is peaceful, he builds the Temple and grand palace. Why? Though more faithful, one could argue that David was less “good” than Solomon. Backsliding Solomon lives a fairly righteous life while David commitment Heynis acts.
Although Wise, he did not heed the wisdom. The knowing-doing gap was big with this guy.
There was a queen impressed with his wisdom so much she paid him 666 talents of gold annually. Connection with his downfall with women and their gods? Golden idols? The take away from this could be that each decision we make the leading us in a direction. By accepting this money, Solomon is now going down a path that lead to him turning away from Yahweh to worship Baal and moloch. Small steps toward the big mistake. He should have asked himself what the price of this paycheck would be. Ultimately cursing his descendants and doing all of Israel is a disservice.
SUPPLEMENTARY SCRIPTURE
1 John 5:2-3
“We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.”
So In conclusion:
Why did David gain favor while Saul and his son Solomon fell short of the glory of God?
The intention of David’s heart is the answer. Was not deeds, but pure REAL faith in the Lord.
His prophetic prayer that advanced the kingdom of God “Lord I will build you a house”
2 Samuel 7:1-3
See now, “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God swells inside tent curtains.” Then Nathan said to the King, “go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you”
To understand the magnitude of this prayer you must understand that God has not only been “dwelling in” this tent with the Israelites this whole time, but He designed it to be that way. He gave very specific instructions to Moses for the tabernacle to reflect the heavenly equivalent. David proposing to build God a house of cedar when NOBODY else has done it OR has God told them to. Doesn’t the word say:
“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not ADD TO it or take from it”.
Yet here David is proposing a new and improved way. And God accepts! Free will and human creativity aligning with Gods heart or was God waiting on somebody to do this all along?
Why does this temple even matter? Is it not just stones and wood? The temple, now destroyed and replaced with the dome of the rock, was Solomon’s temple. Inanimate stone. Yahwehs temple was made of spiritual LIVING stones.
David opened the door for Jesus to step through for US to become the temple of the Lord. Our heart is made up of living stones for God to dwell in.
Follow David’s prayer and tell God “Lord I will build you a house!”
My purified heart shall be a good place for the Lord.
As Josh taught last week, God can not live in a heart filled with sin. He resides where He is welcomed. In a pure clean heart that goes and sins no more. We are all sons of David given the blue print on how to build this temple to the Lord.
How do we host the Lord of all? Perfectly. Want your heart to be a temple to the Lord, one must strive for christlikeness. To be as Christ was. He gave us the blueprint, now it’s time for us to take action and build!
David prayed for Solomon. Take this prayer with you today and forever.
1 chronicles 29:19
Give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and your testimonies and your statutes, to do all these things and to build the Temple for which I have made provision.”
“Be strong and of good courage, and DO IT; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the House of the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 28:20
There is work to be done! God is your boss. Have you been a good employee? Luckily God can never fire you, only you can quit. Take this next week as a challenge to build a temple for the Lord, read the word to understand His will, and then DO IT! Amen.
