The man blundered big-time, just like the rest of us. So I always wondered why God declared David—this shepherd, musician, and king—to be “a man after my own heart.”1 How did David—this adulterer, deceiver, and murderer—emerge so favorably in God’s sight from among all the other wrongdoers in the world? Inherently, this king of Israel was no better than anyone else; his self-assessment mirrors our own: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”2 Knowing the blemished state of the human soul, David staked his life entirely on the abounding love and mercy of God. When his predecessor Saul faltered in faith, he distanced himself from God and consoled himself with a ready repertoire of excuses. But not so, David! Quite to the contrary, when David erred, he turned to the only place he could find help, God’s own heart—not running from Him in fear, but to Him in faith; not spurning God’s character with doubt, but embracing His goodness through trust; not hiding from God because of his shame, but presenting himself before the only One who could remove it.
We, too, can enjoy this confidence before God, for His character never changes—He is faithful, and His faithfulness overflows to us. Paul writes, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”3
This is the reality in which we who are in Christ now gladly live. Though we blunder, we are loved. We are a new creation, 4 and our sin defines us no more. We need not run from God, for it is He who has brought us near to Himself through the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of His Son.5 Then like David, we, too, live confidently before God, forgiven and reconciled to Him—people after God’s own heart. We are free to follow the Spirit of God, that we may “be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”6 Where do we go when we sin? Straight to the Father through Jesus the Son.
Father, we praise You for Your great character—Your kindness, goodness, faithfulness and patience. Help us to accept in faith Your great love for us, and free us to live before You and others in great confidence, hope, and joy. Be glorified in Your people, Your church. In Christ, we pray. Amen.
1 Acts 13:2
2 Psalm 51:5
3 Colossians 1:21-23
4 1 Corinthians 5:17
5 Ephesians 2:13
6 2 Peter 3:4
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Paul Nordman—Author 