Have you ever run away from someone who wanted you dead? I do not think I have. Have you ever really blown it? I have. Have you ever had a loved one die when you thought it was too soon? I have. Have you ever had a loved one betray you?
All these things happened to King David. Saul wanted to kill him “And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David.” (ESV) 1 Samuel 19:1, David committed adultery and murder for a woman, Bathsheba, “Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus, says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (ESV) 2 Samuel 12:17-9 David’s son died as an infant, 2 Samuel 12:18, “On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, ‘Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”’ (ESV) 2 Samuel 12:18, and David’s son Absalom betrayed him and tried to take the throne from him, “The king said to him, ‘Go in peace.’ So, he arose and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, “Absalom is king at Hebron!’”. (ESV) 2 Samuel 15:9-10 In the midst of these hopeless situations, David remained a man after God’s own heart and he continued to hope in God.
In fact, out of this came a marvelous Psalm that I meditate on often particularly after I has messed up and sinned against God.
“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.
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. (ESV) Psalms 51:1-6,10-13
Because like David, I have gone through a few of the things like he did, and my own desire is that I too would be a man after God’s own heart. I pray that as God blessed David, He will bless me. Frankly, so far, He has blessed me and because of that I have hope that the Lord will never leave me or forsake me.
The only way to really be a man or a woman after God’s own heart is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. If you do not know Jesus the true source of hope does not abide in you. Learn how to get the hope you need. Learn how to know Jesus
If you have not read my previous blogs you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
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