ByI suppose you’ve read the Psalms, 1st and 2nd Kings — which are the books written by David in the Bible. Among all the servants of God in the Old Testament, David is the only person God explicitly said, “He’s a man after my own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). And interestingly, David got this accolade when he was in the bush tending his father’s flock, not even when he got anointed, much more to speak about becoming king.
Today, some people think the people that please God more are the high-profile pastors and public figures. Meanwhile, it’s not so. The Bible says God isn’t a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). That means how God chooses and views things varies from how we do. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
If mantles don’t leave the earth, then it means some believers can take up David’s mantle in our generation. But again, you cannot live like who you carry his mantle without learning and doing what he did that sustained that anointing.
Today, I’m glad to share three things David consistently did that kept him pleasing God till the time he died. Maybe, this sounds more direct to the music ministers. Well, let’s see.
1. He always desired to be in God’s house
Do you know that the number one desire of David was to be in God’s temple? Although he was a king and had a large family to cater for, he never found any excuse not to be in God’s house. In Psalm 27:4 (NIV), he writes:
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
Psalms 27:4 (NIV)
You see, David had a lot on him to do. However, he was always conscious of being with God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites actually met God only in the temple. Today, it’s different. The Holy Spirit lives in us (Romans 8:9, 1 John 4:4). So if David, who didn’t have God’s Spirit in him, was that mindful of God, we should be better off in our intimate relationship with Him.
A man’s life is like a fully programmed computer code that consistently needs debugging of errors to become better.
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The Holy Spirit can dwell in you, but there’s still the possibility of neglecting to give Him your attention. You may not see the immediate effects, but you’ll see later that you’re not growing spiritually. Be prayerful, and build a spiritual pattern of soaking God’s Word daily. Your relationship with God will thrive.
2. He never ceased to praise God daily
Did you also know that David never ceased praising God, whether in hard or good times? In Psalm 119:164 (NIV), David writes that
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.
Psalms 119:164 (NIV)
Even though David was a busy man, he found time to praise God seven times daily. Remember that in those days, there weren’t phone reminders or task checklist apps to remind him to praise God. But David jealously protected this habit. In fact, this is one secret of godly leaders. They build, practise and consciously protect spiritual patterns that contribute to their growth in their devotion to God, divine knowledge and expansion of their vision.
Whether you’re a leader or not, it’s time to watch your life closely. Look carefully into your life. Identify the things you struggle to do, pray to God about them, and start reading the essential materials to solve them.
To me, a man’s life is like a fully programmed computer code that consistently needs debugging of errors to become better. Until you attain the full measure of Christ, there’ll still be things in your life to correct. So analyse your life, let God help you discover your problems, and collaborate with Him to solve them.
3. He repented when he was wrong
Another interesting thing I noticed about David’s life is that he always repented when he was wrong. David knew he wasn’t a perfect man, although he wrote about such a person in Psalm 37:37.
When he committed adultery with Bathsheba, he wrote a whole Psalm to tell God to forgive him (Psalm 51:1-19). How many of us do this? Oh, we think God has pardoned and forgotten our sins through Christ (Hebrews 8:12), so we don’t need to repent. How deceived we are.
Repentance is different from salvation. Repentance doesn’t mean God hasn’t forgiven and forgotten our sins. God has indeed done that. But to help us change our attitudes, Apostle Paul insisted on it in 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
You may say, “I don’t need to repent if I’m born again.” Here’s the point. 2 Corinthians was a book in which Paul addressed the Corinthian church, which was heavily involved in all kinds of sins. He told them to have godly sorrow for what they’re doing; so that it’d lead to their repentance. Paul wasn’t telling them to go and accept Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour again. No. He was saying they should repent and turn away from their evil deeds.
You may have been saved, but it’s probably that you still have attitudinal flaws. You need to repent (have a change of mind) about the wrong things you’re doing as soon as you notice them. If you don’t know, evil acts grieve the Holy Spirit. Accept correction from God and his servants (spiritual authority) so that you’ll get transformed to become more Christ-like.
With the practice of these three things David did, you’ll certainly not be like David. However, you’ll become more Christ-like because living each of them ends up investing in your intimate relationship with the Lord. You’re a blessing.
