The Heart of David
by G. Craig Lauterbach
One of my heroes in the Bible is King David. He was an extraordinary man. From childhood to his final breath, he was faithful. As a 17-year-old son, we see his faithfulness first manifested when the prophet Samuel came to the house of his father Jesse. The Spirit of God led the prophet there to choose the next King over Israel. Samuel was a respected and anointed man of God. What an event this must have been? Scripture records his coming caused a stir throughout the entire City of Bethlehem. After arriving at Jesse’s home, Samuel announces he is going to make a sacrifice to God. In preparation for this occasion, Jesse and his seven sons are ceremonially consecrated. Following the sacrifice, Samuel has each son pass before him. One by one, much to Samuel’s surprise, God rejects each son. After seven denials, Samuel asks Jesse, “Do you have any other sons?” Jesse’s response was, “Yes, my youngest who is watching the sheep.” When David arrives, God’s Word comes to the prophet confirming that this is the one! Why wasn’t David allowed to be there with the rest of his family from the very beginning? Why was he made to stay and watch the flocks of his father. Jesse was a wealthy man. He could have allowed one of his hired servants to do this. After all, when would an event like this happen again? In Jesse’s eyes, David was considered insignificant in comparison to his other sons. He was the youngest, the baby of the family. He was also referred to as handsome, or in modern day terms, “the pretty boy.” He would not be the people’s choice for “Outdoorsmen of the Year, but in God’s eyes, David was a king. In spite of all the excitement and commotion, David never disobeyed his father by leaving the flocks. He waited until he was instructed to come. What other 17-year-old would have done the same?
When God called me to preach, I was only 17. I was attending an interdenominational church gathering outside of Washington, DC. After the meeting was over, a local pastor and his wife who I knew through a mutual friend approached me. They asked if they could share a prophecy the Lord had given them for me. The word was, “This is my servant who shall feed my lambs. This is my servant who shall feed my sheep.” I would have never thought I would be in the ministry. My father was a successful businessman in the Baltimore/Washington area. One day my brothers and I would inherit his corporation and continue in his success, but God had a different plan. Since 1979, I have been feeding his lambs and feeding his sheep as a preacher of the gospel.
Some of you may feel insignificant. Like David, you may not be the people’s choice, but in God’s eyes; you have been set-aside for a special purpose. 1 Samuel 16:7 states, “For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” When God directed Samuel to anoint another king over Israel, He told the prophet this king would be a man after His own heart. What was it that God saw in David’s heart that made him different from everyone else?
A Man Of Prayer
David was a man of prayer. Every time he was faced with a major decision, scripture records, “David inquired of the Lord.” In 1 Samuel 23:1, David is told that the Philistines have attacked the City of Keilah. Before he makes any decision to help these people, verse 2 reads, “He inquired of the Lord.” Before putting himself and his men at risk, David wanted to make sure he was doing the will of God and he sought God’s will and direction through prayer. Again in 1 Samuel 30:1-19, scripture records while David and his soldiers were away fighting the Philistines, that the Amalekites raided his camp, burning the entire village and taking captive all the women and children. When David and his men returned, they found everything in ruins and their families gone. The anguish and grief was overwhelming. So much so, that the soldiers spoke of stoning David because of this great tragedy. What was David’s response? 1 Samuel 30:7 reads, “And David inquired of the Lord.” Instead of reacting to the situation, David sought God’s wisdom through prayer. The outcome of this was, he pursued and overtook the Amalekites. Every woman and child was rescued and each man’s belongings restored. If this were not enough, all of the wealth the Amalekites had robbed over a number of years also became the spoil of David. Theologians calculate its value in the millions of dollars. Because David was a man of prayer, he experienced the Lord’s blessing and prosperity.
At times people ask me, "Pastor, how do I know when God is speaking?" My response is, if you want to hear God’s voice, then He needs to hear yours. Because David was a man of prayer, he recognized God’s voice. We see this same passion for prayer exemplified in the earthly life of Jesus. Prayer is what maintained His relationship with the Father. Prayer is what gave Jesus His marching orders. Prayer is what strengthened Him during the march, and prayer is what secured His victory. This same principle applies to us. Our spiritual salvation was birthed in prayer and our relationship with Him will only be maintained through prayer. In fact, prayerlessness could cause us to miss a divine opportunity.
Look at Acts 9:1-19. “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. 4 And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ’Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 5 And he said, ’Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ’I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; 6 but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ’Ananias.’ And he said, ’Here I am, Lord.’ 11 And the Lord said to him, ’Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ 13But Ananias answered, ’Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.’ 15 But the Lord said to him, ’Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, ’Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, 19 and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus.” Where would the church be today if Ananias had not been a praying man? The transformation of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul would have never taken place and New Testament scripture, as we know it would be nonexistent. Because Ananias was a praying man, he recognized God’s voice and obeyed His command. This is the same dedication we see displayed in the life of David. His consistency in prayer kept his heart sensitive towards the Lord
A Man Of Conscience
Look at the loyalty David manifested towards King Saul. 1 Samuel 24:1-10 reads, “When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wild Goats’ Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ’Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ Then David arose and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe. 5 And afterward David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6 He said to his men, ’The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’S anointed.’ 7 So David persuaded his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way. 8 Afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, ’My lord the king!’ And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. 9 And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ’Behold, David seeks your hurt’? 10 Lo, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, ’I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.’” David could have taken Saul’s life, but he didn’t. Why? David was a man of conscience before Almighty God. It didn’t matter what those around him said. What mattered to David was what God had to say, and His Word said, “Touch not mine anointed.”
In 1 Samuel 26:1-11 we see another occasion where David could have taken the life of King Saul. “Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, ’Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hackilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?’ 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hackilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. 6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, ’Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?’ And Abishai said, ’I will go down with you.’ 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night; and there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, ’God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.’ 9 But David said to Abishai, ’Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?’ 10 And David said, ’As the LORD lives, the LORD will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put forth my hand against the LORD’S anointed; but take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.’" Again, David could have taken the life of King Saul, but because he was a man of conscience, David honored God in spite of the injustice he suffered. Maybe you’re facing circumstances where someone is misrepresenting you? It may be a boss at work, your ex-husband / ex-wife, or possibly a leader within your church. Whatever it is you’re facing, learn from the life of David. When we respect those in authority, even when they don’t deserve it, God will fight for us. Don’t lower yourself to their level. Choose to ascend to God’s standard.
Another example of David’s conscience is seen in his repentant heart. Following his moral failure with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, the prophet Nathan confronts David. His response wasn’t to cover up or justify his actions. David immediately confesses his sin and seeks God’s forgiveness. Psalm 51 is the cry of his heart following that confrontation. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones, which thou hast broken rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to thee. 14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. 16 For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased. 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, 19 then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on thy altar.”
If there is an area of unconfessed sin in your life, I want to encourage you to seek God’s forgiveness. Tell the Lord you’re sorry. Ask Him to cleanse you from the spiritual dirt your sin has created. If you will do this, like David, God will cleanse, forgive, and restore you. You may be thinking, I don’t deserve this. Well, that’s true. In fact, none of us deserve His forgiveness. That’s why it’s called grace. Grace means receiving what we cannot work for. It’s a gift. As is true of all gifts, we simply open our arms and receive it with gratitude in our hearts. God wants you to know He loves you. His desire is to bless, not punish. Like David, choose to confess and turn from your sin. Receive the mercy He has made available through His Son Jesus Christ. By doing this, you position yourself like David, to again receive the blessings of the Lord.
One other area that reveals David as a man of conscience is his integrity. In 1 Samuel 20:14-16, David makes a vow with Jonathan. You see Jonathan knew David would eventually be the next king over Israel. He knew how Samuel had anointed David at the age of 17. It was very obvious that God’s favor was upon David’s life. So when Jonathan had David take this vow, he was insuring that his remaining family members would be protected and provided for after his death. You might be asking yourself, How did he know whether or not David would honor the vow? He knew David. David was a man of integrity. His word was his bond. God said that David was a man after His own heart. Just as God is faithful to His Word, as a lover of God, David honored his word as well. In 2 Samuel 9:1-13, we read how David honored the promise made to his friend. Some time after Jonathan’s death, Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, was located by David, and given a seat at the king’s table. The promise was not fulfilled for Mephibosheth’s sake, but for Jonathan’s sake. David was a man of integrity.
A Man of Faith
Indeed, David was a man of faith. From his youth up, he was an individual who trusted God. In 1 Samuel 17, David facing the giant Goliath details the faith he manifested when challenging an adversary double his height and triple his body weight. In addition to the size advantage, Goliath was also a trained and experienced warrior. For all practical purposes, David was the underdog. If this had been one of our modern day boxing competitions, Goliath would have been favored 100 to 1. It’s amazing though, what faith in the living God can do. Faith took this 17 year-old boy and made him a champion. Not only did he defeat Goliath, but he also went on to become the greatest king in the history of Israel. During his reign, he went from victory to victory and all because of his unwavering faith in God.
We also see his faith demonstrated in his life of worship. The book of Psalms is a compilation of David’s faith in God. Songs of praise, songs of hope, songs of deliverance, and songs of thanksgiving have blessed people throughout the centuries. When the Ark of God was returned to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6, David worshipped the Lord by dancing in the streets. His dance celebrated the return of God’s presence to the holy city. He removed his royal robe and became like every man before the King of all kings, Jehovah.
In 2 Samuel 7, David’s heart of worship is ultimately revealed by his desire to build a temple for the Ark of God to reside in. As he looks around and observes the palace he lives in and then looks out the palace window and sees the Ark of God in a tent, he realizes there is something drastically wrong with this living arrangement. How can mere man, a creation of God, be given greater respect than the Creator Himself? David loved God! That was the foundation of his faith. His passion for the Lord fueled his faith.
Like David, I want to encourage you to believe God. Choose to be a man or woman of prayer, of conscience, and of faith. Your life is significant. You may feel unnoticed by man, but God notices you. Take the little you have and place it in the hands of the Creator. When the loaves and the fishes were placed in the hands of Jesus, the miracle of multiplication happened. Your small portion will be multiplied when it is placed in the hands of Jesus. As you cultivate this kind of spiritual relationship with Him, He will transform your heart. You will experience the heart of David.
