Integrity- People of God

Can a man who has raped another man’s wife, had him killedand then take his wife, can such a person be saved? Not only can he be saved but he can be transformed into a person who walks uprightly and can become a person who seeks God’s heart. David was the king of Israel who took Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and laid with her and had Uriah killed and thentook Bathsheba for his wife. Yet, God called David a man after His own heart, and some people would ask why?

David a man after God’s heart began as a shepherd who song praises and worshiped God while caring for the sheep. He wasoverlooked when the prophet Samuel came to his father’s houseand all of the sons were called to the feast but David. He was in the field with the sheep and yet his spirit was one that praised and worshiped God. A heart of worship and praise to God in private can catapult a person from obscurity into a state of influence, just as David went from being keeper of the sheep to being anointed the next king of Israel. 

1 Samuel 16:11,13 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not [a]sit down till he comes here.”  13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. NKJ

David was a man who believed God’s word to be true and sought God’s guidance in his battles. Though David was anointed to be the next king of Israel he did not take it upon himself to take the kingdom from Saul. Instead he hid himself from Saul, who was trying to kill him and continued to fightagainst the enemies of Israel. David waited on the Lord to give him the kingdom He had promised, though it took many years, David trusted God’s faithfulness.  

1 Samuel 26: 23  May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. NKJ

David was a man who trusted God to avenge him from wrongdoings. In the natural we would think David had every right to slay Saul because he was trying to kill him.  David had respect for the anointing of God that was once placed on Saul and would not kill him, though David had several chances to kill Saul, he refused. When David’s men spoke of stoning him because they were greatly distressed at the loss of their families, David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 

1 Samuel 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

When Nabal, who was a harsh man and evil in his doings,ridiculed David and his servant David went with the intent to slay Nabal and his household.  Godly counsel was given to David and he turned away from avenging himself, and God avenged David in that Nabal died days later. 

1 Samuel 25:33  And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. NKJ

David was a man who humbled himself before God. He esteemed the word and the ark of God greater than his own reputation. When the ark of God was brought into the city of David he danced like a wild man before it in worship to God. He did not care what people would say about him, though he was the king, David did not restrain or hinder his praise and worship to God. David would rather appear to be made low in his own eyes for God’s glory. Some people are more concerned about their own status and reputation than they are the glory of God. David put God above his appearance and the perception other people had of him.

2 Samuel 6:21-22  So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.  And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” NKJ

David was a man who worshiped and praised God and acknowledged God for His goodness and faithfulness to him.David wrote most of the Psalms in the Bible which was the hymnbook of the Old Testament. The Psalms are songs of praise and worship to God as they recognize God’s love and provision for His people. God inhabits the praises of His people therefore He is always close by those who praise and worship Him. 

2 Samuel 7: 22   Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. NKJ

David sought God direct his steps in his battles, yet when it came to his personal life he acted or reacted out of selfishness, self-interest and greed. But when David was confronted with his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah he was quick to acknowledge his wrong doing and submitted himself to God’s judgement. 

God is more concerned about our present and our future than our past. Though David had done wrong, he turned and acknowledge his sins and committed himself to the Lord. 

2 Samuel 12:13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. NKJ

Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ NKJ

We too can be a person after God’s own heart:

We can be a person who believe God’s word is true and to be quick to turn and obey God. 

We can be a person who praises and worships God continuouslyand seek His direction. 

We can become a person of humility not seeking to be exalt or avenge ourselves.

We can trust God’s love for us and believe in His faithfulness toward us.