My husband and I were travelling for his work and this thought of David popped into my head as I was praying and meditating on the word of God, “why would God call David a man after his own heart?” Acts 13:22 I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. David, this sinner who murdered Uriah one of his loyal soldier in his army for his wife, committed adulatory and was about to take credit for the success as king without acknowledging God’s presence with him for it all. Pride was creeping up on David having brought harmful consequences on himself as well those he’s responsible for, an imperfect man, a sinner.

2 Samuel 24:10-14 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” God sent the prophet Gad to prophesy to David about the consequences of his action and he was given three choices. David replied to Gad after hearing his choices of punishment, 1. Three years of famine in the land. 2. Three months of fleeing from his enemy while they pursue him. 2. Three days of plague in the land. 2 Samuel 24:14 David says, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the. Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” Look at the privileged David has with God, that he can choose his punishment for his sin.

David, a man after God’s own heart? Though he seemed to have walked boldly into sin, doing it without a thought of the consequences. David always knew how to repent even before being confronted by God. It was like he knew he couldn’t help but sin when he wrote, “behold, I was sharpen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceived me, Psalm 51:5. To me he had this special relationship with God as plea for him to deliver him from his weakness to fall into sin. Maybe the reason David was cast away from his brother was because like a misfit he’d always stir up trouble. There are some of us in the world that have problems when it comes having relationship with others, especially if you have issues like mental illness. People judge and condemn, but mental illness is serious and to me it is responsible for a lot of people bad behaviour. As Jesus said on the cross, “forgive them for they know not what they do.”

I can’t help but believe David may have loved his solitude with God and the sheep because it seems to be where he stayed peaceful and out of trouble with man. He found a strong bond and relationship with God in an isolated place with animals as Adam did in the garden of Eden with God, before Eve came along. To me, David was a reminder to God of Adam and they had a relationship that was undefined. God was David’s everything unlike Adam, David was not alone once he had God and needed a help meet, Genesis 2:18. God was all David had as his (help meet) companion, friend, and lover of his soul. God was the only family David had that loved and accepted him just the way he was with his strength and weaknesses. They had an unconditional love between them that can never be severed.

Nothing could satisfied David and keep him contented except his relationship with God. The relationship with God completed David the reason having many wives was enough, brothers, sisters, mother, father, family and friends. I believe David did crazy things because God is truly what he was after and nothing in the world could ever replace the hunger and thirst; that zeal for the almighty that can’t be quenched by anything of the world, no amount of victory won, crown or wealth.

For my understanding David was looking for truth and righteousness. He was in the world, but not of it. He struggled and had problems connecting and being apart of the world and people. David had spent so much alone time with God that their intimate relationship and connection some how made him an outcast, set apart from others. He couldn’t seem to live a regular life outside of his relationship with God. Being God’s warrior, friend, companion, and his willing servant, yet a sinner who loved God more than anything. David, to me was perfect in the sight of God. But matters to his heart (emotions) as a king, husband, father, sibling, son and friend, he lacked the ability to be good at.

We see David as God fearing, but yet sinning, being crazy and so indifferent like not killing Saul when had a chance, running from his son who wanted to kill him and refusing drink the water he so desired from Bethlehem when it was brought to him. A misfit, but God is a good of mercy, love and understanding of humanity. David knew how to be in relation with the Lord in such a way only God can. Not Moses, Abraham, Noah, Joseph, Jacob…all other great men of the Bible no other had the kind of relationship with God like David. David revered God so much that strived to never do wrong by him and whenever he falls short he knew to right away to humble himself and repent. He had a love for God and a respect that is so unwavering pure and true and for his faithfulness God blessed him continually. David knew that the Lord understood his weaknesses as man, but loved him regardless and His mercy endures forever.

David, a man after God‘s own heart! He allows us to know that God’s mercy endures forever, a broken and contrite heart God never despise, day and night are the same to God, so He doesn’t judge us as good or bad in us because according to Psalm 139:14 “ fearfully and wonderfully made,” summarizing everything, David told us about what God feels about us, He knows and understands us, has me thinking, we must keep also in mind that we are all imperfect beings, but being conscience-stricken, respecting God’s will by being obedient is being after God’s own heart.