David, failure or man after God’s own heart

Sometimes we put a tag on a person.  For example we talk about one of Jesus’ disciples as ‘doubting Thomas’ because he doubted Jesus’ resurrection.¹  Yet we forget that he was also brave and committed to His Master.  When the chief priests wanted to kill Jesus, on the occasion of going to raise Lazarus, Thomas said to the other disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’ ²  Why is he not recommended for his fearlessness?

#  We often treat King David the same way and give him a tag.

People remember him as an adulterer and murderer in the case of Bathsheba.  Turmoil in the family was a problem for David: one of his sons raped a sister and was killed by a brother.  That brother later tried to push his father from the throne and make himself king, but was killed.  Another son also tried to elevate himself to kingship and was killed.  Shouldn’t David be tagged ‘Failure?’

#  Did the omniscient God tag David ‘Failure?’

• No!  The New Testament reports, “He [God] testified concerning him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'” ³
• Look at what David did after all his mishaps (he confessed his sins ⁴).  He turned his attention to that which God held dear in His heart: His Temple.  That is where God would live in the midst of His people.
• David, not allowed by God to build the temple, said, ‘My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations.  Therefore I will make preparations for it.’ ⁵

#  David’s exhaustive preparations

• He brought the ark to Jerusalem. ⁶
• He organized the Levites, priests, singers and gatekeepers. ⁷
• He got the plans for the temple from the Holy Spirit. ⁸
• He gathered immense amounts of gold, silver and bronze and got the leaders to contribute. ⁹

#  What is the moral of the story?

God was very pleased with David’s life work, done near the end of his career.  So when we think we blew it, God says it is not over yet.  If we confess our sins, God will reveal the next stage of His plan for each of us individually.  That might result in God giving us the wonderful tag, ‘A man (or woman) after my own heart who did what I wanted him or her to do.’

Conclusion

It is never too late!  Don’t let people tag you.  Allow God the last word over your life.

References

1. John 20:24-29
2. John 11:16
3. Acts 13:22
4. Psalm 32:1-5; Psalm 51
5. 1 Chronicles 22:5
6. 1 Chronicles 15-16
7. 1Chronicles 23,24,25,26
8. 1Chronicles 28
9. 1 Chronicles 29