In the last two posts we have seen five characteristics of a man after God’s own heart.
What else made David such a man?
- Sixthly, David knew who he was – a covenant child of the Living God.
Goliath had terrified all the men of Israel, including Saul.
But David was unimpressed.
“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26b NIV)
“Why are you so impressed by him?” he was saying. “Don’t you realise he is uncircumcised, outside the covenant of the Living God? Don’t you know who you are?”
- Next, he did what he did for the glory of God, not for his own glory:
He told Goliath, when telling the latter of his coming death:
“… the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
(1 Samuel 1 17:46b NIV)
- Next, he was a man of humility.
In spite of his oldest brother’s jealousy against him …
“I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is!”
(1 Samuel 17:28 NIV)
… he was a humble man. When Saul proposed that he become the king’s son-in-law, he demurred. He objected:
“I’m only a poor man, and little known.” (1 Samuel 18:23 NIV)
- Lastly,he waited on God and for God, and for God’s timing.
Twice it seemed as though God had put Saul’s life into his very hands: twice he refused to lift a finger against the man who had been the anointed one of Israel. Actually, Saul had been rejected by God as king but struggled on, refusing to surrender his throne. But David, who had been anointed king himself, refused to do anything to bring about what God had promised.
He waited for God to vindicate him.
Lord, create in me, I pray, a humble and contrite heart that I too may be called a man or woman after Your own heart.