Subject: The Heart of David
Beginning Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, open the eyes of our hearts so we can You, and only You as to glorifying Your precious Son's name. We ask that You, Lord, help us to see ourselves more than looking at others' character. Keep us from judgmental. Examine our hearts, Lord. Bless this study to change our life, and all those who trust in You. We ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN.
Acts 13:22 says, "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He 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."
The following words describe the heart of David as seen in his own writings:
(All verses New International Version)
Humble – Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Psalm 62:9
Reverent – I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3
Respectful – Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. Psalm 31:9
Trusting – The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Loving – I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1
Devoted – You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7
Recognition – I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1
Faithful – Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6
Obedient – Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34
Repentant – For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:11
David's example is a great road map for how we are to live our life. Which of these areas need your greatest attention for improvement?
Week # 2 Part 2: The Heart of King David
The story of David and Nabal is found in 1 Samuel 25. Nabal is described in 1 Samuel 25:2 as a property owner who "was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel." He was a harsh man ("surly and mean" in verse 3), married to a kind woman named Abigail.
During the time that David and his troops were on the run from King Saul, they found themselves near Nabal's flock during shearing season. As they were low on supplies, David sent men to Nabal to request some food. Nabal sent David's servants back with insults for David, and David commanded his troops, "Each of you strap on your sword!" (1 Samuel 25:13). Four hundred men prepared to attack Nabal's home.
The story of David and Nabal continues when one of Nabal's servants told Abigail about the situation. "Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. Then she told her servants, 'Go on ahead; I'll follow you'" (1 Samuel 25:18–19). Abigail gave the provisions to David's men, and her prudent action caused David and his men to bless her and return to their camp. Nabal, his family, and servants were saved through her actions, although Nabal was unaware of what his wife had done.
Nabal got drunk that night, and Abigail still did not mention her activities to him. "Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died" (1 Samuel 25:37–38).
When David heard of these events, he offered Abigail a marriage proposal: "David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, 'David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.' She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, 'I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord's servants.' Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David's messengers and became his wife" (1 Samuel 25:39–42).
On a negative note, the chapter concludes with the information that David's first wife, Michal, had been taken from him and given to someone else. Also, David had a wife named Jezreel, likely making Abigail his third wife. Abigail is later recorded as the mother of David's second son, Daniel (1 Chronicles 3:1), also called Chileab in 2 Samuel 3:3.
Though considered a man after God's own heart, David's relationships with women were his weakness. In 1 Samuel 25, it is Abigail who is highlighted as the kind servant, while David is presented as a warrior with an expanding group of wives. This stark contrast in the story of Abigail provides some insight into the life of a woman living in difficult times. Abigail's kindness and decisive action saved the lives of many and changed her life completely.
To understand why David was a man after God's own heart, we need to see what characteristics he had to qualify for such an exalted description. In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul speaks of God's feelings about King David: "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He 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'" (Acts 13:22). The answer to why David was considered a man after God's own heart is found right in the verse: David did whatever God wanted him to do. An obvious question is how could God still call David a man after His own heart when David committed such terrible sins, including adultery and murder?
We learn much of David's character in the book of Psalms as he opened up his life for all to examine. David's life was a portrait of success and failure, and the biblical record highlights the fact that David was far from perfect. But what made David a cut above the rest was that his heart was pointed toward God. He had a deep desire to follow God's will and do "everything" God wanted him to do. He was a man after God's own heart. Let's look at some characteristics of David's life to discover what that entails:
WEEK # 2
Quiz:
1. Who refused to assist David and his men, and died as a result?
Eleazar
Nabal
Saul
Abimelech
2. Which former King of Israel tried to kill David out of envy?
Joash
Solomon
Ahab
Saul
3. Who was the Prophet that confronted David with his adultery?
Samuel
Nathan
Elisha
Elijah
4. What was the cost of David's sin with Bathsheba?
A lamb sacrifice
They could never marry
Their first born would die
Repent in sackcloth and ashes
5. After Absalom rebelled against King David, who did Absalom appoint as commander over his army in Joab`s place?
Abiathar
Abner
Amasa
Abishai
6. How did David's son Absalom die?
Caught in a tree by his hair
His head was cut off by a Philistine
Killed by his own captain
Three darts thrust into his heart
7. Who was crippled son of Jonathan who was given a permanent place at King David`s royal table?
Maacah
Hephzibah
Mephibosheth
Abishai
8. How many years did David rule as king of Israel?
10
30
40
60
Questions:
1). Who sent Samuel to find David?
2). Describe what David said about his own heart.
3). How would you describe Nabal?
4). Who was Nabal's wife?
5). How did Abigal act when she heard what Nabal did?
6). How did Nabal die?
7). What would you call Nabal's death now days?
8). What kind of heart Abigal have?
9). How many wives David had when he married Abigal?
10). How would you describe David's relationship with women?
11). Apostle Paul wrote about David, what did he say?
12). In what book we learn much about David's character?
13). Describe David's characteristics.
Weekly Psalm of King David: Psalm 7
Weekly Prayer of David: I Chronicles 16:8-36
Self-Examination Time: What can you do today to stay The Course?
Weekly Reading Assignment: Proverbs 5-8
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