A Man After God's Own Heart

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The phrase: "A man after Gods own heart" means a person who has a personal and cordial relationship with God. This good relationship with God is the result of his obedience and submission to God's will. Even when such a person disobeys God, and does what is wrong, he genuinely repents and ask for forgiveness so that the good relationship that was broken can be restored. He is never happy until he is fully reconciled with God.

In the Bible, David is described as: "A man after God's own heart". This was because he was obedient to the Lord. He submitted himself to God's will even when he could have taken vengeance on his enemies. When he did wrong and the weight of his son was brought home to him, he repented and asked for forgiveness; and he was forgiven.

God wants us to follow the good example of David in our relationship with Him and with those around us.

David's Submission To The Will of God.

When Saul was still king of Israel, he suspected that David, whom he had invited to use his music to restore his sanity, was making an attempt to usurp his throne. Therefore, he chased David in order to kill him (1 Samuel 26:1-25). When Davis learnt of Saul's intention, he went into hiding. One of the places where he sought refuge was the wilderness of Ziph. However, the people of Ziph revealed to Saul that David had sought refuge among them. Saul then organized three thousand men and set them after David. Saul and his soldiers encamped on the hill of Hachilah. When David learnt of the arrival of Saul and his party, he sent spies to find out the state of Saul's preparedness. David then took Abishai and went on a personal check.

David met Saul and his personal guards, including Abner, fast sleep for the Lord had caused a deep sleep to come over them. Abishai then suggested that he should be allowed to kill Saul in his sleep. David objected to the idea of killing Saul, David removed his spear and jar of water. David then moved to a safe distance and from there called out to Abner, Saul's army commander-in-chief, and condemned him for sleeping on duty. David asked about the whereabouts of Saul's spear and jar of water. Saul then woke up and recognised the voice as that of David.

David was concerned about Saul's attempt on his life. He asked the king what offence he had committed that th king seek to chase him about to slay him. David said if the hatred of him was the work of God, he was prepared to make an offering. But, if it was from men, then they should be cursed. Saul then said he had been in the wrong in seeking the life of David. Saul appreciated David's kindness in sparing his life when he could have killed him. He therefore regretted his actions against David and promised that he was not going to harm David anymore.

David then asked King Saul to send someone to collect his spear and jar of water. David prayed that God should preserve his life as he had spared Saul's life. He said: " The Lord rewards every man for his rightly and faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not out forth my hand against the Lord's anointed. Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord and may he deliver me out of all tribulations".

Then, Saul said to David: "Blessed by you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them."

David then went his way and Saul returned to his place. Thus, we see that by refusing to kill the Lord's anointed, David submitted to the will of God.

The next incident when David submitted to God's will was in connection with the death of his first child with Bathsheba(2Samuel 12:15-25). The whole affair was an adulterous Union in which God decided to punish David by killing the child. God made the child sick and David prayed to God to spare the life of the child. He fasted and prayed for seven days. On the seventh day, the child died. When David heard that the child had died, he then knew that it was God's will. He therefore submitted to the will of God by suspending the fasting and prayers. He washed himself anointed himself, changed clothes, took food and worshipped the Lord. When taken to task by his servants, he said he had live a normal life because he could not bring back to life the child. Only God would be able to do this. Hence, his submission to His will.

The Significance of David's Submission To God's Will

David proved himself to be a man after God's win heart by sparing the life of Saul. The person of the Lord's anointed is sacred and therefore, no harm should come to him. David respected this law of the Lord and submitted to it. This teaches us to have respect for God's word and to show respect for constituted authority.

David's sparing of Saul's life was also an act of forgiveness. He could have killed Saul as an enemy, but he did not. This teaches us a lesson in forgiveness. We must learn to forgive our enemies even if it means sparing their lives. King Saul, in his part, acknowledge his fault in seeking David's life and repented. From this, we must learn to accept our fault when we do wrong and ask for forgiveness and lead changed lives. David acceptance of God's will in the case of the death of his child with Bathsheba is also worthy of emulation. We cannot fight against God's will. We must accept it in good faith and co-operate with Him in all areas of life.

Thanks for reading. See you in my next article.