INL February 14, 2003  

SOUNDING OUT:
A Man After God’s Own Heart

  There may be more written about David’s sins and short-comings than any one else in the Bible. Yet, David is the only person in the Bible whom God describes as a man after His own heart. (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) It is not mistakes or stumbling that separates one from God. On the contrary, getting back up and walking again seems to endear one to His heart.

Psalms 37:23 and 24:
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

  David never let his mistakes become permanent set-backs. He always seemed to make it back. Psalms record so much of his heart and concern for the things of God. We see him going to God at the height of elation and in the depths of despair. Yet, we see his love for God shine through all the opportunities he faced.

Psalm 143:1-6:
{A Psalm of David.} Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. [By his own works, that is.]
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Therefore is my spirit [refers to his heart] overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse [meditate] on the work of thy hands.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. [Think about it.]

  Think about the longing David had for God. He has been through some rough times. The enemy has persecuted him and chased him. He was on the run; he lived in caves. He would get overwhelmed at times, but he would tell God about it. Then he remembers back on the days of old and how God worked with him. How his soul thirsts for God! What a longing David had for God.

Psalm 143:7a:
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: ….

  ‘O’ is an interjection or an exclamation that shows that David is involved on a heart level in this prayer. It is just not rote words off the top of his head, but his heart is involved.

Psalm 143:7,8:
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

  What a longing of heart! That’s something we can desire also. O that we could hear God’s lovingkindness in the morning because we trust in Him. That He would cause us to know the way wherein we should walk as we lift up our soul unto Him. David started his day yearning to hear from God. He enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Lord God Almighty and meditated on His Word. There in his morning watch, he enjoyed God’s unfailing lovingkindness and reaffirmed his trust in God. He understood that a key to knowing God’s will was enjoying that time with God reflecting on the greatness of what God had done and was doing in his life.

Psalms 143:9-12:
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

  God will gladly lead us in every area of our lives. He wants all of our heart, at all times, in all our ways. (Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 62:8.) He wants to make things very simple for us. We do not have to wonder about what to give God and what to keep back for ourselves. He wants it all: all of our heart, at all times, in all our ways. As we dedicate our lives to Him, He will lead us in the way that we should go. Those that are led by the spirit of God, the same are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

Psalm 48:14:
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Isaiah 58:11:
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

  Our choices in life often reveal our character and motivation. When we stumble do we pick ourselves up? Are we only interested in finishing our journey or do we care about those who will follow? Is our vision limited to our lifetime or are we concerned about those who will come after us?

  I am glad our American Revolutionary War forefathers saw beyond their lifetime. In fact they sacrificed their fortunes so we could have the country we have today. I am thankful for all the men of God who went before us also, the Luthers, the Tyndales, the Knoxs, and the others too numerous to mention. Many people have paid an awesome price to give us the knowledge of God we have today. Are we willing to do the same for others?