David - A man after God's own Heart

There are many qualities and lessons we can learn from David. He is not perfect, but yet he was considered to be a man after God's own heart. So as we read about David and how things for him started, let's focus on his characteristics that we can gleam from scripture. And in doing so, we can see how we may even become closer to Christ in our own walks.

Anointed

• 1 Samuel 16: 1
  • Samuel is sent to seek out the next King after God had rejected Saul as King.
• 1 Samuel 16: 6-13
  • Samuel anoints David
• David as set apart from God even from the start.
• What can we tell about David's character from just what we have seen so far?
  • He is a Protector
  • He is obedient

Comforter

• 1 Samuel 16: 14-23
  • David is able to sooth Saul and God's tormenting spirit
• Now what else do we see about David's character?

Defender

• 1 Samuel 17: 17-23
  • David arrives just as Goliath is taunting the israelite army
• 1 Samuel 17: 32-37
  • David steps up to fight Goliath
  • Saul is unsure of David being able to defeat Goliath
    • Saul was looking at David but not at the God David stood for
    • How often do we look at the outside of someone instead of what matters more?
  • David cannot stand for someone defying the living God
• 1 Samuel 17: 45-46
  • David gives God the glory for the victory before the fight starts
    • Do we give God the glory before or after the victory?

While we only looked at David's beginning, we can clearly see characteristics that stand out that fall in alignment with God. I believe that as we grow in our walk with Christ, we will see His qualities come out in us. Just like David, we need to be obedient, and faithful to Him. While we did not read all of David's story, we know that he was not without faults. And in this we should find comfort. That the man after God's own heart was still fallible. But like David, we must be able to truly repent from our sin and learn from our failures.