From “In the Beginning” to Amen // David

David

He was a son, shepherd, musician, warrior, king, fugitive, father, adulterer, liar, murderer, and a man after God’s own heart.

1 Samuel 13:14 (ESV)

“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Biblical Heart

The control center of your life.

David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1 (NIV)

“At the time when kings go to war… David stayed home.”

SlideThis is an abuse of power. This is manipulation. This is murder.

David shows us again, that it’s not a question of if we will fail, but what to do when we do.

Psalm 51 (ESV)

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.”

“Have mercy on me, O God” …

“I know my transgressions…”

“Create in me a clean heart…”

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation” …

“That’s what true repentance sounds like.”

David’s greatness was not that he didn’t fall.

It was this: he knew where to go when he did.

“Repentance Isn’t Punishment—It’s Realignment.”

Cultivating A Heart After God’s Heart

Humble Yourself

James 4:10 (NIV)

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

“God, I really need you.”

Acknowledge Your Brokenness

1 John 1:8-9 (MSG)

“If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.”

James 5:16 (MSG)

“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.”

Run Toward God

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

A man after God’s heart isn’t someone who never fails…

It’s someone who knows where to run when they do.

Psalm 115:4-8 (ESV)

“Those who make [idols] become like them, so do all who trust in them.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”