5 Reasons Why David Was A Man After God’s Own Heart

Do you ever wonder how God could call King David, an adulterer, and murderer, a man after His own heart? One of the wonderful things about the Bible is that its heroes are made up of flawed people, like you and me. Here are 5 reasons why David was a man after God’s heart.

The Bible, just like any other book written, is full of ironies. 

It is also full of interesting facts; we call Bible trivia.

For example, why did God regard David as a man after His own heart when David was a murderer and an adulterer?

While some skeptics may not agree with this acclamation, we could never deny this fact since it was the Lord himself who honored David with such a title.

Many times people are labeled by the wrongdoings they commit. But God doesn’t see as a man sees (1 Samuel 16:7), remember?

Related: 10 bible verses you need when you feel unlovable

The Bible says, “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man” (Proverbs 28:14). Also, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).

Thus, we can understand much of a person’s character through his words. And there are tons of it in the very own book that David wrote– the book of Psalms!

Reasons why David was a man after God’s own heart

david gods heart

The Lord Was His Rock and Fortress

It is easy to feel afraid when enemies surround us. We may never know when the next attack would be. However, David did not fail to take courage in the Lord, for He was his rock and refuge.

  • Psalms 18:2; 31:2,3- David regarded the Lord as his rock and his fortress when the Lord rescued him from the hand of Saul and his other enemies.
  • Psalms 62:2, 6-Enemies did not significantly shake him because His rock and His fortress was the Lord.
  • Psalms 71:3-God was his rock and refuge to which he may continually come.
  • Psalms 94:22-Although the wicked rulers against him, he claims the assurance that God was the rock of his refuge.

We all know that David lived a blood-filled life. His enemies surrounded him, ready to attack him anytime. Even his boyhood beginning his shepherd life was filled with action and continuous pursuit to defend his life from wild beasts or men (e.g., Saul, Goliath, Absalom, etc.)

Despite these, David conquered because God was on his side.

Related: Bible Verses to Remind You of Your Security in Christ

The Lord Was His Shepherd

Before David was king, he was a mere shepherd boy. His battles weren’t amongst men rather amongst lions, bears, and other wild animals preyed on his sheep.

Psalms 23 teaches us David’s reliance on God, just like a sheep who relies on the shepherd. This chapter teaches us that the Lord:

  • Fills our needs (v.1)
  • He provides us with the right opportunities and circumstances (v. 2,3)
  • He leads us to righteousness (v. 3)
  • There is nothing to fear when the Lord is at our side (v.4)
  • His leadings comforts us and gives us security (v.4)
  • He protects us (v. 5)
  • He anoints us (v. 5)
  • He blesses us (v.6)

David was a man after God’s own heart because his shepherd was God.

Related: How to be Faithful Amidst Opposition to Your Calling

The Lord Was His Light and Salvation

One thing that was constant in David’s prayers was God. Pressed with many trials and challenges around him, he understood that the Lord would never leave him. And that God will always be there to save him.

Psalms 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Also, in Psalms 68:20, David says, “Our God is a God who saves; from the 

Sovereign LORD comes to escape from death.” and Psalms 68: 19“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

The analogy that God was his light and salvation is paralleled to the description of the savior himself: 

  • John 12:35- Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.
  • John 12:36-Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid from them.
  • 2 Corinthians 4:6-For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
  • 1 John 1:5-This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all.
  • John 3:19-This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

David was “a man after God’s own heart” because he understood well that there is no other light and savior than the Lord.

Related: How to Teach Kids Bible Verses (Even if They Aren’t Interested)

The Lord Was His Strength and Shield

Unlike Saul, David trusted not his armors nor his soldiers, but his dependence is entirely on God. This thought may be difficult to fathom, given that David walked the path of bloodshed through spears and swords.

Despite that, God was His strength and shield. He attested this in the following verses when he said:

  • Psalms 18:2-The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
  • Psalms 28:7- The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song, I praise him.
  • Psalms 59:11-But do not kill them, Lord our shield or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down.
  • Psalms 140:7-Sovereign LORD, my strong delivereryou shield my head in the day of battle.

The Lord was His strength. He was his shield. We understand here that David wasn’t a man after God’s own heart because he is qualified. But because his God is.

The Lord Was His Trust

David lived a life of uncertainty. Yet, his reign started the golden years of Israel. The credit, of course, is due to the Lord. Who blesses his children who lovingly obey and trust his commands.

Related: 20 important Questions about God to discuss with your kids

  • Psalms 25:2-I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
  • Psalms 20:7-Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
  • Psalms 13:5- But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
  • Psalms 31:14-But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

Again, here David attested his faith. He was able to transfer this faith to his son Solomon who said, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord (Proverbs 16:20). David anchored his trust in no earthly power or ruler but God.

David wasn’t a man after God’s heart because of his qualifications

You see, David wasn’t a man after his own heart because of his qualifications. But because of the Lord’s. He indeed, just like any of us, is a sinner. God continuously reminded him, and as a result, he became repentant of his sins.

Related: Help for When You’re Waiting on God for an Answer

We could enlist more descriptions of why David is rightful to be called the man after God’s own heart. However, David’s experiences were a constant reminder that there is nothing that we can do to be worthy in God’s sight. 

God alone has the power to draw us near to his heart. And may that be the utmost prayer of everyone.

Do you wish to be a man or woman after God’s own heart? The good news is, God is willing to give the title to any soul who seeks after his commands!

This was a guest post:

Heroes 2: The Game is a Bible trivia game released by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Hope Channel. It is a sequel to the game, Heroes, which was released way back in 2013. The latest game version is on its new 3D animation, comes with unique features, and has more challenging Bible questions in four languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. The game is available on both iOS and Android.

5 Reasons Why David Was A Man After God\'s Own Heart