The Bible never flatters its heroes. It tells us the truth about each one of them in order that against the background of human breakdown and failure we may magnify the grace of God. Sins are not glossed over, neither are they glorified. As we look at Bible characters, we find ourselves looking into a mirror. Great has been our failure, but greater still has been His faithfulness. Paul put it this way: “These things happened to them (Bible people) as an example, and they were written for our instruction” (I Cor. 10:11).
While there is much in the Bible in the way of theology, principles and teachings, it is seeing these truths acted out in the lives of Bible characters that helps us really understand them. No one’s life is more helpful and instructional than David. He mirrors all of us.
DAVID’S name appears 1034 times in the Bible. Almost half of the books mention him. You must read all or part of 66 chapters to get an overall picture of his life. Creation has 2 chapters, Abraham 14 chapters. David is best known as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). His actions weren’t always as God would have them be, but his heart was truly for God his whole life. David’s life is like a compass needle that wiggles but keeps coming back to north.
SAUL was the first king of Israel. God didn’t want them to have a king — He was their king. They insisted, and He warned them it would bring disaster (1 Samuel 8:5, 18-22). Sometimes God lets man learn things the hard way and this was one of those times. Saul was chosen by the people because he was tall and handsome. They didn’t care about character, just appearance. God is more interested in character. Character is what you are when no one is watching. Outer appearances can be deceiving, it’s what’s inside that really counts!
Saul failed because he used people. When his own son Jonathan led the Jews to victory against the Philistines, Saul in jealousy made a crazy law that anyone that ate or drank before the end of the battle would be put to death. Jonathan had no knowledge of this law, and when he broke it his father would have killed him if the soldiers wouldn’t have intervened. Saul just used people for himself, then dropped them — even family. Then Saul was guilty of presumption. He offered sacrifices which only a priest could do. In his pride he put himself above the law of the land, seeing himself as an exception to the laws others had to obey. Finally, he disobeyed God by not destroying all the enemy and livestock. Then, to make it worse, he lied and tried to cover up his sin. He blamed others (1 Samuel 15:22-23). As a result of these sins God took the kingdom from him and gave it to another (1 Samuel 15:28).
DAVID IS CHOSEN by God, whereas Saul was chosen by the people (1 Samuel 16:1). Samuel thought it was one of David’s older brothers, for they were tall and good looking (1 Samuel 16:2-6). God made His priorities clear, though, when Samuel wanted to anoint David’s oldest brother. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). David is then anointed king, but it’ll be awhile before he sits on the throne. When we look at David we see just why God chose him, what inner traits God valued in David and still values in us today. This is what it means to be ‘after God’s own heart.’
DAVID IS CONTENT to stay and take care of sheep. He isn’t jealous or impatient. He is willing to wait for God’s timing. This is one of the inner traits God so greatly values in His servants.
DAVID IS HUMBLE after he is anointed. This special privilege doesn’t go to his head nor make him proud. He hasn’t tried to elevate himself or impress others, and that is one of the reasons God chose him. Even today God looks for inner godly character traits for His servants (I Tim 3:1-11). We must cultivate these same inner qualities in ourselves instead of working on outer appearances and external ways of impressing people.
DAVID IS FAITHFUL in little things before God gives him larger ways of service. He was faithful as a shepherd. He wasn’t sitting around waiting for God to give him some nice, juicy job. He faithfully worked behind the scenes, doing whatever God wanted him to do. Jesus said “Whoever wishes to become great among you shall become your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44).
DAVID IS WILLING to do whatever God would have him do. He was willing to leave his sheep, his home and his family when God called. He was available to be used by God in any way God wanted to use him. That’s what God wants of us today, too. He doesn’t care about our ability (outside), just our availability (inside).
DAVID IS PATIENT in awaiting God’s timing in being king, too. He had years with the sheep, playing his harp for king Saul, and many years running and hiding from Saul. It can be hard to wait, to be patient for God’s timing. Moses didn’t wait but moved in his time and ended up with 40 years wasted in the desert. David knew he couldn’t make himself king, and that if God wanted it to happen He would have to bring it about. He was willing to wait for God’s timing.
Contentment, humility, faithfulness, willingness and patience — these are what God looks for. God looks inner traits, not outer. That’s why He chose David instead of Saul. That’s what He wants from us today, too. He doesn’t look for sinless perfection, for David was as sinful as Saul. He looks at our heart (I Kings 14:7-8). What does He see when He looks into yours?
Remember, appearances are deceiving. Don’t focus on them in judging others or evaluating yourself. Don’t try to impress others by your outer appearance. Inner means more. A young officer who was blinded during the war met and later married one of the nurses who took care of him in an army hospital. One day he overheard someone speaking about himself and his wife: “It was lucky for her that he was blind since he never would have married such a homely woman if he had sight!” He rose to his feet and walked toward the voices, saying, “I overheard what you said, and I thank God from the depths of my heart for blindness of eyes that might have kept me from seeing the marvelous worth of the soul of this woman who is my wife. She is the most noble character I have ever known; if the shape of her features is such that it might have masked her inward beauty to my soul, than I am the greater gainer by having lost my sight.” Make sure you, too, focus on inner beauty and not outer beauty (Prov 31:30).
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Who do you know that reminds you of David?
In what ways are you like David?
In what ways are you different?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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