Welcome back to #TheKingDavidStory series! In this 3-week series I’m walking you through the story of King David’s life. His ups, and his downs. And we’ll discover why (after everything he’s done) he’s still considered a man after God’s own heart. Today we’re talking about how to understand God’s heart, even when we make mess up and make mistakes.
*featuring photos from Joshua Tree National Park
If you’re just tuning in, then you might have missed the first post in this series. I recommend reading that first: The Secret Behind King David’s Fame
>>This post recounts the favor and blessing on King David’s life. We discuss exactly what separated David from others, and how we can also receive that same favor from God.
Now, we’re ready to dive in! Let’s do this!
The Story of King David
(How to Understand God’s Heart)
(How to Understand God’s Heart)
Recap: What Did David Do? – The Mistakes
In 1 Samuel 13:14, God describes David as a man after his own heart. Wow. That is a pretty awesome compliment to receive from God. It leads you to believe this guy was nearly perfect! But what’s interesting is, he wasn’t. Not even close. After digging into the Bible and actually learning more about David’s life, he made quite a few mistakes. Actually, he made big mistakes, and even broke a few commandments.
1. Stayed in Jerusalem instead of leading Israel into battle
- After David was made King of Israel, it’s expected that as the king, he would lead the nation when they go into battle. Instead of doing this, David stayed back in Jerusalem while the Israelite army went out to fight the Ammonites (2 Samuel 11:1).
2. Had an affair with his soldier’s wife
- While in Jerusalem, King David had an affair with one of his soldiers’ wives, Bathsheba. Shortly later she became pregnant (2 Samuel 11:2-5).
3. Tried to cover up the pregnancy
- In an attempt to cover up the affair, King David sent Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite, back to Jerusalem from battle. David’s intention was for Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba, so he would assume the baby was his, and not David’s. Uriah did come to Jerusalem, but he refused to sleep in his home. He claimed he couldn’t enjoy himself, knowing the rest of Israel’s army are camping and sleeping in fields (2 Samuel 11:6-11). Uriah the Hittite sounds like a pretty honorable guy.
4. Murdered Uriah the Hittite
- After King David’s cover up attempt failed, he sent Uriah back to battle. David commanded that Uriah be put on the front line and abandoned, so he would be killed by the Ammonites (2 Samuel 11:14-15).
5. Took Bathsheba as his wife
- After Uriah’s death, David took Bathsheba as his wife, and she gave birth to their son (2 Samuel 11:26-27). This does NOT sound like the type of guy I want to look up to.
Chapter 11 concludes with;
“But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”
(2 Samuel 11:27)
How to Understand God’s Heart
After hearing everything David did, it’s shocking that God looked at David and said he is a man after His own heart. Why would God do that? Let’s dig into this a bit further.
In 2 Samuel 12:8-9 God says to David;
“I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this was too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?”
(2 Samuel 12:8-9)
The way God speaks to David says volumes about the type of God we serve. God’s response sounds like a loving Father who is deeply hurt and disappointed by his son. God says, “I have given you everything. And if that wasn’t enough? I would have given you even more! How could you do this?”.
God is disappointed in David.
When I was a teenager, if I did something I knew to be wrong, the hardest thing to hear was that my parents were disappointed in me. I would have actually preferred to be yelled at. Something about knowing I let down my parents (who love me and want the best for me) cut deeper than anger and rage.
In Psalm 145:8, the Bible says; “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love”.
Wow, that fills me with so much hope!
After reading about King David’s mistakes, I truly feel how much love and grace God has for us. No matter how much we sin or rebel against God, He still loves us. He is slow to anger, and rich in love. He wants the best for us. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts.
God has unconditional love for us, but like a parent punishes their child, God did punish David for his sin. Keep learning! >> Check out the next post in #TheKingDavidStory series: How to Live in Blessing After Disappointing God
Read More
The Secret Behind King David’s Fame
How to Live in Blessing After Disappointing God
How to Stay Motivated to Pray (when it feels totally forced)
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Have you experienced God’s love and grace, even in the midst of making a mistake? Love to know in the comments below!
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