Who is David? A man after God's own heart. 2 Samuel 12:20 a Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped.

Who is King David? A man after God’s own heart, part 2

Who is King David? A man after God’s own heart, but what does that mean? Welcome to part 2.

I mentioned in a previous post about King David’s sin against Bathseba, Uriah, and God and how that did not keep him from a relationship with God. And my very next scripture reading brought me to this very story.

Reading in 2 Samuel 12, we get to read the story of David sinning against Bathsheba. As if that wasn’t bad enough, poor Uriah gets called in from war so that David can cover up his sin. But Uriah is faithful to the King and to his fellow soldiers and refuses to enjoy time with his wife in his own home. David pushes it, gets him drunk. Still, even drunk, Uriah refuses to leave the gate of the King.

I guess David felt backed into a corner, because he sends Uriah back to war with a message laying out his own demise. How trusting Uriah is! He carries the message for his own death from the King to his commanding officer. Never knowing, never suspecting.

We don’t know much about how Bathsheba felt about all of this. Only that she was bathing on the roof as part of her ritual cleansing from having her menstrual cycle. And I gotta say, that’s not exactly a “I feel good” time of the month. How she felt about the King killing Uriah, we don’t know that either. We know she grieved as part of the required “grieving” time. And immediately after became one of David’s wives.

They had their child, and David probably thought it was all in the past.

David’s Sin Confrontation and Consequence

Until here comes Nathan, with a word from the Lord.

David full of righteous indignation at the fabled rich man is confronted with his own treachery. His repentance is immediate.

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”

–2 Samuel 12:13-14

Again, David’s reaction is immediate. You have to give David credit for this, he does not waiver. There’s no, “what should I do?” Nope. Immediately, David begins pleading with the Lord to save his child’s life. He pulls out all the stops, fasting, praying, nights lying in sackloth on the ground.

The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

-2 Samuel 12:17

He was inconsolable. If you’ve ever lost a child, you can really empathize with David here. After all, David never tried to get rid of the baby. He only tried to cover his sin, even willing to get rid of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah to cover his sin. But not the child.

2 Samuel 12:18 tells us “On the seventh day the child died.” And that’s when the strangest thing happens.

Then David got up from the ground. After he washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped. 2 Samuel 12:20 a

Immediately, David gets up, he washes himself, he puts on lotion, new clothes and goes in to the house of the Lord to worship.

Wow. Again, wow! David’s immediate reaction to losing his child is to worship God.

David’s response: A man after God’s own heart

This is what makes David a man after God’s own heart. He is literally after God’s heart. He begged for God to spare his son, but when God didn’t, David didn’t resent God or become bitter. No, he cleaned himself up and worshipped God.

Another incredible example for me to follow. Upon reading this I asked myself, how do I react when God does not give me what I want? How do I respond to God when after weeping, fasting and prayer the thing I did all that for is unattainable?

I wish I could say I respond like David. That I clean myself up and worship him. But often, I cry, maybe grow a little bitter. It’s hard.

It’s hard to let go of the thing you want so much that you are on your knees crying and begging and the answer to be no. Firm unwavering, no. And not a “not today”, but NO. There is no returning of his dead son. That child is gone. God’s final word was “NO.” and David worshipped.

Even though the verses hadn’t been written yet, it’s as if David already knows. “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those that love him, who are the called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.

I know in my own life, I have learned the truth of Romans 8:28. The painful truth of all things working for my good. Through grief, through trials, through persecution, through good smooth sailing, all of it to make me more like Jesus.

I know the darkest trials, the deepest tsunami’s of grief were where I experienced the most growth, the most anchoring to God. But it’s hard when you are in that darkness, in those suffocating depths to find God, to hold on to him.

Many people lose their grip. They let the darkness and waves carry them away.

I’m so glad that God does not lose his grip on us. If we are his children, he is always there, the good father waiting, watching for our return.

Responding to God in all circumstances like David. Worship. Worship the Lord is faithful and good.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Psalm 51:10-12.

Peace to you friends, I hope if you are in darkness or suffocating in waves of trials that you know you are not alone. There is light, there is safety.

More about the series: ‘Who is King David? And what does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?’

This is a spontaneous, Holy Spirit lead series on David and how he is a man after God’s own heart. If you also pondered how that could be given the many grevous sins that David committed, I invite you to open your heart to the Word of God and follow along with me.

You can find the other parts of the series here:

Who is David? What does "A man after God's own heart mean?"

Part one, I reflected on David’s mercy, kindness and love for God’s anointed, Saul. As well as his abiding love for his friend Jonathan.

Part 1
Who is King David? And what does it mean to be a man after God's own heart. "Then I will teach transgressors your ways so that sinners will turn back to you. Psalm 51:13.

Part three, I reflect on David’s confession from Psalm 51. Watching David work through his confession, turning to begging for mercy, asking for a restoration in relationship with his God. And finally, turning his faith outward. His experience as a witness and testimony to the Almighty.

Part 3

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