1 Samuel 18:1-19:17; Psalm 59; 1 Samuel 19:18-21:15; Psalm 56; Psalm 34; 1 Samuel 22; and Psalm 52

With a chronological approach to the scriptures, we now will get to see the things happening in David’s life and in David’s heart. The psalms that he wrote – inspired by God’s Spirit – contain the truths we need for life and godliness, but also give a glimpse into the heart of the man. We see not only the nature of a man who loves God, but we see the nature of the God he loves.

It truly is real life. Circumstances change and my life may not be epic like David’s, but his life wasn’t perfect. Mine isn’t either and I’m sure yours is not. Knowing this, think for a moment if these pages told your story instead of David’s and the psalms bore the record of your innermost thoughts about life and God. How would YOUR story read?

There is a part of me wishing I could take the story of the shepherd boy who fought Goliath and became a great king and share it with folks dealing with heartache, disappointment and tragedy and say, “See, if you just love God enough, everything in your life will be ok!” That story is not told. If, however, I remove the words “enough” and “in your life” then we find the real story of David. Because of the toxic blend of hurtful people, dysfunctional family and personal failings his life was a mess. What Yahweh Elohim saw when He looked into this man’s heart made all of the turmoil eternally irrelevant. In God, everything was ok for David.

In the court of King Saul, David found the selfless love of brotherhood and the inexplicable plague of human resentment. During his days David found a woman who loved him and many women he tried to love. As a leader of people, David inspired and enjoyed intense loyalty among valiant men on the one hand while being betrayed by his own son on the other. He fought with the Philistines most of his life, and fought against his own demons all along. As inconsistent as people may be, God is a constant and consistently blesses his children in good times and bad.

The temptation is to see Yahweh as an inconsistent, arbitrary and capricious deity who picks and chooses people on a whim and merely toys with their lives and emotions. In his psalms, David sees a righteous God who is just. When faced with trouble the temptation is to simply run away. In his psalms, David sees an all-powerful God he can run to for protection and vindication. Encompassed by the rigors and unfairness of daily life, we are tempted to become depressed and feel alone and abandoned. In his psalms, David rejoices in the inherent goodness of God and takes great comfort in praising Him. Sounds almost crazy.

In the end we are left to conclude that the circumstances of our life certainly shape us, they do not define us. The relative integrity of your walk with Yahweh through the good times and bad ultimately defines you. In David we see a man in desperate need of forgiveness and redemption, seeking and loving a Savior God of grace and mercy. Whether one is a pauper or a prince, each one of us simply needs these same things. Whether we acknowledge this truth or not, Yahweh is the only hope.

A person after God’s own heart chooses to allow his perception of God define his perception of the world instead of allowing his perception of the world define his perception of God.

Consider His nature. Consider His ways. Strive to love Him more!