Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the Lord your God gave you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.  But now, your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him, and the Lord has appointed[e] him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you. 
1 Samuel 13:13-14

When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been. 
1 Kings 11:4

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David, a man in the Bible sandwiched between Saul and Solomon, was a king who loved God with his “whole heart.” His heart for God stood in stark contrast to the men whose stories flanked his. Although all three sinned in rather spectacular ways, David’s heart returned to His true love over and over again. I learned this in a Willow Walk Through the Old Testament event many years ago. I remember this so vividly because the teacher used a hand motion that triggered our memories of the story about David. That day, I determined that I wanted to be a girl “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14.)

When we examine what the Bible tells us about David, we discover more truths from Scripture that will help us hang tight to God.

• David was a young man who listened to God and destroyed Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50-53).
• David was a man who loved God’s laws (Psalm 119).
• David was a man who sinned greatly, confessed, and who God forgave (2 Samuel 12).

These facts are woven throughout Scripture—God was David’s closest companion,  but that didn’t preclude him from having significant human relationships. His best friend on earth when he was a young leader was Jonathan, King Saul’s son. They had a covenant relationship; Jonathan protected David from his father’s anger, and after Jonathan died, David cared for his family.

When David sinned and had Bathsheba’s husband killed, Scripture tells us that God sent Nathan, the prophet, to talk to David about his sin. Nathan listened to God and loved David enough to confront him.

I examine my own life and wonder, Is God my everything? Do I have friends in my life who protect and defend me? Are people in my life brave enough to do the loving thing and confront me when I hurt God’s heart? As I reflect on David’s life, I believe this equation is what God wants for me and you: Friendship with God + Friendship with people = A person after “God’s own heart.”

Next Steps

Do you belong to a community of people who love God, love people, and want to change the world? Consider attending Willow Creek live or online weekly. Do you have a group of Christ-following friends? Think about joining a small group; the group’s directory opens on 8/25.