Have you ever sat down to ponder how the man after God’s own heart lived before the Lord? What a testimony concerning David: he was a man after God’s own heart. There could be no greater claim than this. Being a man after God’s own heart would consist of being someone who loves the Lord. This type of person also would be someone who keeps the law of God. A man after God’s own heart would be yielded to the Lord’s leading and, above all else, would live to do the will of God.
A man after God’s own heart would not sit around idly watching the world go by. Rather, he would be a man who makes the most out of the time that God has allotted to him. He would seek for opportunities to glorify the Lord and advance His kingdom. Simply put, in all areas of life, he would be going the same direction as God.
It should be the desire of every Christian to be like this. It should be on the heart of every child of God to be a person who reflects the heart of God in the community around him. The Christian is to be like a city on top of a hill and a light in the world. This only comes by way of being in close communion with God. People do not have a light to give in and of themselves; people only have darkness. The light that the Christian gives comes from a source outside of himself.
The Scriptures declare that God is light. When Jesus came into the world, He said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He also said in the Sermon on the Mount that the Christian is the light of the world. What does all this mean? It means that the Christian is, in fact, the light of the world, but he operates as a conduit, not a source. The degree to which the Christian will operate as a light is the degree to which Jesus is operating in him.
David was a man who was declared to be a man after God’s own heart. This is the epitome of what it means to be a true conduit for the Lord. But what were some of the regular habits of this man? This is a question that all Christians should ask themselves at various points in their walk with Christ.
Psalm 9:1-2 gives us a glimpse into the heart of the man after God’s own heart.
“I will give thanks”
David was a thankful man. Scripture says, “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart…” (Ps. 9:1). The King James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV) render this portion of Scripture by using the word “praise.” On the other hand, the English Standard Version (ESV) and the New International Version (NIV) use the word “thanks.” David was a thankful man. It is sad to say that there are many Christians right now who are habitually ungrateful for what the Lord has given them.
It is like the man who fills his fridge with food. He later finds himself getting upset because he needs to move all the food around to get to what is in the back. This illustrative picture is a glimpse into the heart of many Americans. So often people who live with an abundance find themselves dissatisfied. The key to contentment has never been found in a person getting what he wants. Rather, it is always found in a person being thankful for what he has. David was a thankful man, and he was a contented man in the Lord.
“I will tell”
Not only was David thankful, but David was a man who enjoyed spending time talking about God with others. Scripture says, “…I will shew forth all thy marvelous works” (Ps. 9:1). David’s conversation with others consisted of deep conversation. He did not enjoy spending his time discussing trivial matters. This is a convicting word to the church today.
If someone were to read some of the writings throughout church history, he would see a depth to the conversation of these people from long ago. There is a way in which they talked about God that is simply lacking in this modern era. People talk about what they enjoy. They talk about their favorite subjects. This is so much the case that people with the same likes and dislikes have a tendency to gravitate toward one another.
The sad reality is that there is a lack of depth to the conversations that many Christians are having. The logical conclusion is that many Christians may not have much to talk about when it comes to God. This should be a startling reminder as one looks at David. David lived to tell others about the many marvelous works of God.
“I will be glad”
Not only was David filled with thankfulness. Not only did David live to tell others about the many marvelous works of God. David also lived a life of gladness. In this simple statement, one can see a man who was yielded to God’s will. Scripture says, “I will be glad and rejoice in thee…” (Ps. 9:2). Many Christians may look at this verse and not think much of it. But pause for a moment (for there are times when the Christian must pause) and think of its ramifications. (Without pausing and deliberate contemplation, much of what is said in the Scriptures will never be grasped.)
Look into your life for a moment. Do you see the mess? Do you see the wreckage that sin has caused? Do you see the times when God tells you to go one way and your flesh wants to go the other? David lived a life of gladness. This means that in the midst of the wreckage, the mess, and the commands of God, David was a man who overflowed with gladness and rejoiced in the Lord’s will.
“I will sing praise”
Finally, David was a man who loved to sing for the Lord. Scripture says, “…I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High” (Ps. 9:2). David’s heart could not contain itself. You can almost see the man closing the doors to his chamber and locking everyone out so he could get alone with God and sing. You can see the man as a shepherd, sitting down under the tree, watching his sheep. There he is with his harp, strumming away, singing passionately before the Lord, the audience of One.
How the Christian needs to see this man with clear vision. He was not a perfect man, but he was a man who loved the Lord. He was a man who wrote many of the Psalms. He loved the Lord, and his heart can be seen clearly in them.
Application
The Christian today must take note of the example that is given in the life of David. He is one of those witnesses that the book of Hebrews tells us about. His life should be studied. It should then be emulated in many ways. In Psalm 9:1-2, the reader can see that David was a thankful man. If you find yourself living a discontented lifestyle, it is most likely because ungratefulness has crept into your heart. What has been your focus? Has it been what you wish you had? If so, seek to be thankful for what you do have. A good way to do this is to set aside a certain amount of time each day to thank the Lord for what He has given you.
David also loved to tell others about God. This can be a difficult step for many to take, but the first step is the hardest. It gets easier from there. Read the Bible and talk about what you read with someone. Learn the Gospel and share it with others.
Being glad and singing praise have a tendency to go hand in hand. If you are struggling with being glad in the Lord’s will, attack this struggle with praise, and watch as your heart begins to soften.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the example of David. Help me to be like him. Help me to be thankful. Help me to tell others about You. Help me to be glad in Your will and to sing praises to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.