Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:161-168
Saul was the first king of Israel and he ruled for 40 years, but on more than one occasion he was grossly disobedient to God (cf. 1 Sam 13:1-14; 15:1-33). The result of this rebellion was that God gave the kingdom of Israel to David (1 Sam 13:14; 15:28; 16:1).
David is described in 1 Samuel 13:14 as "a man after God’s own heart." What it means to be a person after God’s own heart is made clear in Acts 13:22, where the Lord says - "I have found in David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will." To be a man or a woman after God's own heart is to be someone who is whole-heartedly obedient to Him.
In the Old Testament, David is the standard of obedience for Israelite kings. Subsequent kings are compared to him and are described as being obedient like David was (cf. 1 Kgs 15:11; 18:3; 22:2) or being disobedient in not following David's example (cf. 1 Kgs 11:4; 15:3; 16:2).
But what was the root of David’s obedience? How can we learn to be whole-hearted like he was? The wellspring of David’s obedience was that he found pleasure in God’s commands. "I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart" (Psa 40:8). "O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psa 119:97).
And the deepest root of David's delight in God's commands is his delight in God Himself. ". . . in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psa 16:11b). "I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock in whom I take refuge . . ." (Psa 18:1,2).
