Over the last ten messages we have discussed why David was so special to the Lord, a man after His own heart. We can also be like that. We should be able to say ‘I am...your name...a man/woman after God’s own heart. All we need to do is to put the Lord first in our lives, like David did. David had no desire to impress people. He had the chance to impress his men when Saul relieved himself in the cave, and he had the chance to create an impression of kingly stature when the ark came home, but he chose to impress the Lord instead. In his writings he could have sounded impressive and sang the praises of his human accomplishments, but in everything the Lord got glorified and he declared his humble dependence on Him.
When I read the wonderful Psalm 139 that David wrote, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139&version=NIV1984, I remember a story.
An old, dusty violin once came up for auction. The auctioneer held it up, asking for a starting bid. The bids started at ten pounds and slowly rose in reluctant bidding. After a while an old man from the audience walked to the front and took the violin from the auctioneer. He lovingly wiped off the dust, tuned it and started to play. The most magical sounds whiffed from the violin into the air, soothing the ears of the listeners with its beauty. When the last sounds faded amongst the adoration, a long silence followed.
Slowly the auctioneer found his voice again... ‘Who would give me ten thousand pounds?’ What made the difference to the value of this old, dusty violin? It was the touch of the master’s hand.
David’s brothers had the choice to be touched by the Master’s hand, but they chose to focus on themselves. King Saul had the choice to be touched by the Master’s hand, but he chose to follow his own mind. Through the generations there had been people who chose for the Master to make them special, and there had been people who chose to follow their own ambitions and the advice and influence of other people. We also have a choice to be touched by other forces such as the power of Mammon, pride, pleasure and so on.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing,” (Philippians 2:12-14).
The Lord wants all of us to be men and women after His own heart and He is ready to make us like that. David spent years of worship with the Lord and did not keep himself busy with all kinds of idle, self-indulgent activities. It was through spending time with the Lord that he became the man the Lord wanted him to be, and through which he received the wonderful prophecies that were turned into songs, which were proclaimed by God’s people through singing.
Can we pray with David: “How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you,” (Psalm 139:17-18) and: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” (verses 23-24)?
The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not force himself onto us. But if we make ourselves available to Him to form us into His desire for our lives, we will see wonderful things happening. People differ; some wants to see God doing great and powerful acts in a big way, whilst others want to see the Lord changing people continuously in their daily walk. The Lord will make us special within our gifting as recorded in Romans 12:6-8.
Lord, I would like to be me after your own heart.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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