A man after God’s heart
Psalms is an interesting book. Before we get into looking at it a good idea would be to get acquainted with its main author. Most of the psalms were written as songs by King David, the second king of Israel and father of Solomon. Many of us know at least some of David’s history, but to understand the Psalms more completely we need to get a good overview of his whole life.
David was the youngest son of Jesse, and one who was the least regarded. When, at the Lord’s direction, Samuel came looking for someone to replace Saul, David was out with the sheep. His father was content to leave him there, unacknowledged. Nonetheless, Samuel asked for him, and at the Lord’s direction, anointed David king of Israel. NOT the end of the story!
The next time David turns up he is bringing food to his brothers, who were serving in King Saul’s army. King Saul and the Philistines were not getting along, again. The Philistines had a nine foot tall champion strutting out front, daring Israel to offer its own champion so single combat could decide the current issue. No takers, until David, in righteous indignation, decided to stand up. We all know this story. David took the giant down with one rock to the head. End of the war, for now.
David got taken into Saul’s house, was given one of his daughters as a wife and played music to soothe Saul’s troubled spirit. Despite his loyalty and service as an able subordinate leader, David was nearly murdered by Saul more than once. In the end of this episode, David’s marriage was annulled, and warned by Jonathan, Saul’s son, he became a man on the run, hunted by King Saul.
The chase went on for decades, during which time all sorts of incidents occurred. David was an outlaw leader and had several near encounters with Saul during which he could have taken Saul’s life.
David refused because Saul was still God’s original choice for king. So David and his men hid out in caves, and for a while even worked for a Philistine leader. This chapter closed when both Saul and Jonathan were killed in a battle in which David had no part.
David’s subsequent reign in Israel was long, but not always peaceful. Yes, he had a bonafide prophet, Nathan, to advise him, but there were times when even that was not enough. One time David took a census against direct orders. He took multiple wives. He went to war. One time he used those two circumstances to have an affair, then cover it up by having the husband left alone on the battlefield during a hot fight. Nathan called him on it, then told him that strife would never leave his household.
Strife never did. One half-brother sexually assaulted his half-sister, so her full brother, Absalom, bided his time, plotting revenge. He eventually murdered the half-brother and fled, only to be invited back because he was David’s favorite. Later, Absalom revolted, causing a rebellion that drove his father from the throne. David prolonged the crisis by insisting that no matter what the situation, his son was not to be harmed. The matter was only settled when one of David’s top generals, Joab, took matters into his own hand and killed him. Absalom’s death left the succession to the throne unclear for a time. The family infighting did not stop until David specifically named Solomon as heir in the face of yet another son trying to usurp the throne.
Despite all the sturm und dreck, God still referred to David as a man after His own heart. It was not that David did nothing wrong, obviously. It was because of David’s response when he realized his error. Every time, he turned to God in repentance. Every time he goofed it, David picked himself back up and stepped out in faith once again. Can we find out why? The Psalms will give us a glimpse into David’s heart.