David’s Heart
David was chosen as king because of his heart for God, valuing Him above all else and demonstrating radical obedience, trust, and worship even in the face of personal cost. Unlike Saul, who feared man and sought approval, David’s deep longing for God led him to abide in His presence continually, as reflected in the Psalms, where he expressed relentless praise, faith, and surrender. His life exemplifies the power of dwelling in God’s presence, where divine protection, deliverance, and blessing flow, reminding us that when we hold fast to God in love, He answers, rescues, and satisfies us completely.
A Heart after God
The Bible says that God chose David to be King because he was a man after His own heart. David was just a shepherd boy that God rose up to be King.
And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ Acts 13:22
David is the author of Psalms 24, our main text for this treatise, and indeed most of the psalms. The heart of the matter is that God was Davids One Thing that he valued more worth than His own life, kingdom, family or even exploits.
Saul feared man
The king before David, Saul, upset the Lord by disobeying His commands but mostly because Saul lacked a genuine desire to obey God – he had no real love for God. Comparing Saul’s life to David’s, it may seem puzzling that Saul lost the kingdom for his sin while David, despite committing seemingly worse offenses, retained God’s favor.
Saul’s failings included unauthorized sacrifices and sparing the Amalekites when God had commanded total destruction. Though he expressed repentance (1 Samuel 15:24), his actions often reflected fear of people rather than obedience to God.
Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 1 Sam 15:24
In contrast, David committed serious sins like adultery and murder, yet his repentance was sincere, and God’s covenant with him remained intact. While David faced consequences for his sins, such as the census (1 Chronicles 21), Saul’s single act of disobedience resulted in the loss of the kingdom, highlighting the importance of a heart fully aligned with God’s will.
A Heart after God
Davids Heart
The difference was David’s heart. Yes, he missed God’s heart in some major ways and fairly often, but the core underlying position of his heart was how much he loved and valued God above all else, and therefore to do whatever God wanted him too. He also only really cared what God thought about him. Whereas Saul did things for the eyes of man and was caught up in what people thought of him. David did not even care what people thought of him. He even went so far as to humble himself in front of God and humiliate himself before people, for God, by dancing almost naked. People despised him for that act of worship, especially his wife (Sauls daughter) Michal.
When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”
David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.
I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor” 2 Sam 6:20-22
David also cared so much for God that he would not sleep until he had found a resting place for God. Once it was discovered, he brought the Ark of God to the city before going to sleep
“I will not enter my house or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Ps 132:3-5
In 2 Samuel 7, David also tried to build the House of God before His own house, but the Lord would not let him.
He also feared God such that he would not take the crown unless God handed it to him. Many would have said that God had delivered Saul into his hands when he was in the cave (1 Samuel 24). But he would not put a finger to the one God had chosen, Saul. He let God deal with Saul and waited for his own promise until God crowned him. He didn’t ‘take the opportunity’.
These are just a few examples of how David continually sought God, repented of his mistakes, surrendered to God’s will above his own and walked in an amazing faith and trust in the Lord. These examples serve to speak of David’s extreme obedience to God and respect for His word, even when it cost him dearly. God could see all this deep in His heart way back in the beginning and that’s why God chose Him.
David's Heart Cultivation
Davids Affectionate Abiding
Essentially the heart of David is described as a love for God, it caused him to obey even when it was costly. This love for was conceived in the secret place and nurtured in the dwelling/abiding. The psalms really bare David’s heart wide open. Even though he had many troubles and battles, He was constantly stirring up his heart to give thanks, praise and worship God, often in faith – whilst awaiting the breakthrough or deliverance. This is the costly sacrifice of faith and joy
David would praise the Lord seven times and pray three times a day
Seven times a day I praise You because of Your righteous judgments. Psalms 119:164
Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalms 55:17
David was constantly conscientiously coming before God and worshipping God.
I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalms 16:8
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalms 34:1
Abidings Fruit
The psalms have left a legacy for thousands of years that show us how to abide, to trust God in the midst of life’s storms. A psalm that captures this picture is potentially one of the most famous ones – 91. This captures some of the beneits of abiding and dwelling
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Ps 91:1-2
In the first verse where it says, he who dwells (yashab – ישב) which means to sit, dwell, remain settle, marry; in the secret place. Then its reads, and abides, that word abides (luwn – לונ) is in some versions translated lodges, dwells, rests – it means to stop and stay and can be translated ‘spend the night’. The Complete Jewish Bible reads, who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai.
Another interesting thing to point out is that David uses 4 different Names for God in the first 4 lines and then later references what happens to hose who know His Name. We look more into Gods names in the section on GOD. But here I will list for reference.
Most High – Elyon – עליון - The Supreme One
Almighty – Shaddai – שדי - The Omnipotent One (All Powerful)
Yahweh (Lord) – YHWH – יהוה - The One who was, is and will be … (Eternally Existent), its referred to as a covenantal name, but it’s a personal name of God; whereas other names are more of a title, position or descriptive
God – Elohim – אלהי - God, One True God, Power, Judge, Creator
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. Ps 91:3-13
Looking at these colorful bold passages, the bold is what we do and the underlined bold is what God does. It is shown that as we dwell, abide (live/rest) and trust, He delivers, covers and protects us. Because we make Him our dwelling place, He commands His angels to guard us.
However, the last three verses sum this passage up so well. Because we love Him, He delivers us. Because we know His Name, He protects us. When we call, He answers, comes, rescues and honors. He saves us, prolongs our life and satisfies us.
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.” Ps 91:13-16
When we hold, know and call, He comes. When He is with us all the other stuff disappears; enemies and problems flee and fade. In His Presence is fullness of joy and life abounding. He is the all, in all. Who is there like the Lord? His Beauty captivates. His magnificence will enrapture us from the depths of depravity. His majesty awakens and emboldens. His countenance enlighten