The Bible says David was a person after God’s personal coronary heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). Most individuals need to take this phrase as a reference to the ethical character of David. As such, David was a person after God’s personal coronary heart in that he was dedicated to God’s methods and demonstrated constancy to God’s Legislation. Nevertheless, this viewpoint has a pair difficulties.
On the one hand, David was removed from morally pure. He was a murderous adulterer (2 Sam 11). He killed Uriah the Hittite, and dedicated adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s spouse. Can we are saying David was uniquely a person after God’s personal coronary heart when his actions appear to speak in any other case?
To get round this potential drawback, some folks will say that David by no means engaged in direct idolatry and that’s the rationalization for saying David was a person after God’s personal coronary heart. Nevertheless, there are a pair different kings who appear to match David in regard to this—specifically Hezekiah and Josiah. Each Hezekiah and Josiah put away the excessive locations and reformed worship follow to align with the Legislation. But, neither of them are declared a person after God’s personal coronary heart.
Additional, Scripture appears to have
people who’ve a greater observe file in dwelling faithfully for God than
David. Daniel definitely qualifies. Elijah or Elisha most likely does as properly.
There appear to be people in Scripture who’re godlier than David and extra
dedicated to God’s Legislation than David.
An Different Understanding of a
Man after God’s Personal Coronary heart
A distinct interpretation for “a person after God’s personal coronary heart” is probably going extra acceptable within the context of 1 Samuel. The pertinent phrase from 1 Samuel 13:14 is definitely “after his personal coronary heart” which grammatically may modify the phrase man, or it may additionally modify the verb “Yahweh has sought out.” Many trendy commentators perceive 1 Samuel 13:14 with regard to the latter. In different phrases, Yahweh has sought a person in accordance together with his personal selection (i.e., as a substitute of the selection of the folks).
It was all the time God’s intention for Israel to have a king (cf. Deut 17:14-20). Nevertheless, it was to be God’s selection (cf. Deut 17:15). But when the time got here, Israel needed a king “like all the opposite nations” (1 Sam 8:5). Their need to be like the opposite nations tainted the whole course of. God gave them the king of their selection, and it did NOT end up properly. In distinction, after Saul had disqualified his kingship, Samuel associated that God would now decide a king “after his personal coronary heart” (i.e., his selection).
This understanding additionally appears confirmed by Akkadian parallels which use related language to speak the selecting of a king. For instance, within the East India Home Inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II, we learn, “I, his eldest son, the chosen of his coronary heart…”
One other instance is the Babylonian Chronicle which pertains to Nebuchadnezzar’s selection of king Zedekiah (not talked about by title within the Chronicle). After deposing Jehoiachin in 598 BC, the Chronicle reads, “He appointed therein a king of his personal coronary heart.”
These Akkadian parallels present us is that it’s most well-liked to take the phrase, “a person after God’s personal coronary heart” as a reference to God’s selection of kingship. In different phrases, David was God’s selection for king. This implies the phrase a person after God’s personal coronary heart doesn’t relate to ethical high quality of David in and of itself.
Can We nonetheless Say David was Godly?
Though the phrase a person after God’s personal coronary heart doesn’t inherently relate to David’s character, it relates not directly. Due to who God is, His selection of king does relate to character. Saul was disqualified from kingship due to his lack of character and obedience to God (1 Sam 13:13; 1 Sam 15:22-26). Then again, David exemplified the character of 1 dedicated to God all through 1 Samuel.
There isn’t any doubt that as much as 2 Samuel 11, David reveals himself the exact opposite of Saul in each approach. He waits upon the Lord. He seeks God’s will above his personal. Even in his sin, David is delicate to Nathan’s confrontation (2 Sam 12). It’s clear that David is a particular character is Scripture. So, though the phrase “a person after God’s personal coronary heart” must be seen as a phrase referring to selection (not character), the selection does relate to character.
Extra on What it Implies that David was a Man After God’s Personal Coronary heart
I’ve additionally recorded a podcast the place I talk about this problem in additional element. You may subscribe in your favourite podcasting app, or watch the Youtube model of the podcast beneath.
