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What special attributes did David develop that gained him such high favor with Yahweh?

      “I found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22). So said Yahweh of King David of ancient Israel! What a positive evaluation!

      Of all the people who have lived, Yahweh has given David a special place in His heart. We know from Scripture that King David, when resurrected, will rule over all Israel in the Kingdom of Yahweh (Jer 30:9, Ezek 37:24).

      Have you stopped to consider why Yahweh felt this way about him? As one of Yahweh’s people today, being judged now for your response to Yahweh (1st Pet 4:17), how do you measure up to David’s example? Would Yahweh be able to say that you are a man or woman after His own heart?

      The biblical books of 1st and 2nd Samuel cover David’s life history. Saul had preceded David as king, and utterly failed by disobeying Yahweh (1st Sam 13:13-14). Yahweh decided to replace Saul with someone else as king, and Yahweh used a different method of selecting the next king than humans would have used. Yahweh looks on the inside, at the inner motives of the heart, at a person’s attitude (1st Sam 16:7).

      He wanted Saul’s replacement to measure up to high standards in inner character. Here are several specific areas of David’s character that made him especially pleasing to Yahweh- that made him a man after Yahweh’s own heart.

Active faith

Even though he was but a young man when initially anointed to be king, David had already exhibited tremendous strength, wisdom and talent. He was known as a shrewd fighter. He was physically fit and poised, and an accomplished musician (1st Sam 16:18). Soon afterward, David showed one key reason for his success in Yahweh’s eyes: active, living faith.

Perhaps no Bible story is more popular than the example of David and Goliath. Here was the teenaged David – perhaps short, a lightweight, young – who decided to go against the champion of the enemy army – a man-crushing warrior who stood more than 9 feet tall and whose armor alone weighed nearly 200 pounds!

Goliath had taunted the Israelites for some time, challenging them to provide an opponent for him. All Israel’s warriors refused. But not David! David walked by faith, not sight, and he knew Yahweh could use him to defeat this enemy of His chosen people (1st Sam 17:26, 36-37).

Without a trace of fear, and with no armor or battle garb, David stepped forward with his slingshot and – whap! – down crashed the mass of muscle, bone and armor who dared to defy the Eternal!

David was close to Yahweh. He listened to Yahweh and believed that nothing could stand against the power of Elohim. He had complete faith to overcome any seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

But it wasn’t faith without effort. David was prepared. He didn’t neglect the physical part he could do. He had become strong and able by protecting his father’s sheep from wild animals, and he was an expert marksman after years of practice.

Still, David maintained regular contact with Yahweh and rightly gave Yahweh full credit for the victory. We today should have this same attribute of character. If we believe Yahweh, diligently study His Word, remain in prayerful contact with Him and follow as Yahweh leads through His Congregation, we can have the same kind of faith David exhibited.

Another major aspect of David’s character was that he was sincerely and consistently humble. This trait was especially apparent in David’s relationship with Saul.

Righteous Humility

After his incredible defeat of Goliath and the resulting adulation of all Israel, David became a member of Saul’s royal court. Still, he considered himself totally unworthy to marry the king’s daughter (1st Sam 18:18, 23-24). He knew Yahweh had blessed him and he felt undeserving.

Later, after Saul had become “an enemy to David continually” because of jealousy (verse 29), David still esteemed himself as nothing more than a dead dog or a flea (1st Sam 24:14). He honestly felt that he was too insignificant to threaten Saul’s position.

Eventually, when David did become king, Yahweh made far-reaching promises to him, including the establishment of a perpetual throne, which Saul failed to qualify for. Yet David continued to reflect righteous humility: “Who am I, O Adonai YAHWEH, and what is my house, that you have brought me here?” (2nd Sam 7:18).

David felt he was not important; to him, only Yahweh’s plan and purpose mattered. He served Yahweh in humility, with the mind of Messiah, with the attitude described in Philippians 2:3: “Doing nothing according to strife or self-glory, but in humility, let each regard his neighbor as better than himself.” Do you have this kind of humility?

Loyalty to Yahweh’s government

David displayed another quality that anyone being trained for rulership must possess: He had complete loyalty and respect for Yahweh’s government, and for the human instruments Yahweh places in the offices of that government.

Yahweh had begun to work through King Saul as His ruler over the people. Saul, caught up in a rebellious attitude, began to reject Yahweh’s directions.

Immediately after anointing future King David, Yahweh sent a spirit of adversity to trouble Saul, but left Saul in office as king (1st Sam 16:13-14). Demon-influenced Saul, crazed with envy, tried to kill David at every opportunity. Even though David served him totally and refused to fight back, Saul persisted.

David had a deep, abiding respect for whomever Yahweh had established over him, even if that person in authority were a murderous maniac. Striving only to keep his life, David never talked against Saul or failed to acknowledge Saul’s authority as Yahweh’s anointed.

Once, having given in to temptation to move against the king, David “cut off the tassel of Saul’s robe” (1st Sam 24:4-5), an act that would have shamed the ruler. David felt guilty, and repented bitterly (verse 6). All this, while Saul was on a mission to murder David!

On another occasion, David rejected an easy opportunity to take Saul’s life, knowing that to do so would make him guilty of rebellion against Yahweh (1st Sam 26:9,11). David understood the lesson Saul missed: “For rebellion (bitterness) is as the sin of divination (sorcery); and stubbornness is both iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the Word of YAHWEH, so He has rejected you from being king” (1st Sam 15:23). Yahweh allowed this test to continue for David for many years after he was anointed to replace Saul. David could have rebelled and tried to take over, but he didn’t He didn’t resist, and always honored Yahweh’s chosen servant.

How would you have reacted if you had been in David’s shoes? Would you have passed his test? How do you react today to Yahweh’s chosen leaders, ministers and servants? Are you willing to be ruled now, so you can be trained to rule in Yahweh’s Kingdom (Heb 13:7,17)?

Serene patience

Another facet of David’s character, which developed along with loyalty, was patience. David had to wait years after his anointing before he became king! And the waiting wasn’t easy.

He had countless physical and spiritual trials. Only after much strife did Yahweh give him the kingdom of Israel. In waiting on Yahweh, David endured in spite of circumstances. He left his life and future in Yahweh’s hands and had the patience necessary to develop righteous character. Paul explains this attitude as it applies in the lives of true disciples: “And not only so, but we glory also in afflictions, knowing that affliction works out patience, and patience works out proven character; and proven character, hope.” (Rom 5:3-4).

Faith and patience are often mentioned together in the Bible. You cannot have patience without faith. Faith is belief in Yahweh backed up with active obedience (Jac 2:18). Patience is the serene attitude that allows you to wait on Yahweh in adverse circumstances. Patience is developed through trials like those David experienced: “Knowing that the proving of your faith works patience” (Jac 1:3).

David knew that Yahweh would fulfill His plan for him if he patiently endured (Heb 10:36). How about you? Are you patiently enduring? Do you have the calm resolve that results from leaving your life in Yahweh’s hands?

Zeal

Another major area of David’s character involved his whole approach to Yahweh’s way. He didn’t do anything halfway. David always exhibited an unfeigned, wholehearted, enthusiastic devotion to Yahweh. When David served, he served all the way, in whatever was needed. He was a continual inspiration to others.

After retrieving the Ark of the Covenant from enemy armies, King David was more excited than anyone else. He dropped any courtly reserve and danced for joy in the streets of Jerusalem (2nd Sam 6:14).

Everyone knew David’s enthusiasm about serving Yahweh, and it affected the whole nation. David gave himself completely to the way of Yahweh. He didn’t hold back. What about us today? Yahweh tells us to develop this same kind of wholeheartedness through drawing near to Him and exhorting one another (Heb 10:22-24, 38).

Do you have an enthusiasm for Yahweh’s Work today, a zeal that is contagious? We must not draw back or allow others to hold us back. We must give Yahweh our total involvement, as David did. Yahweh was pleased with him. How about you?

Wisdom

Not to be overlooked, another vital aspect of David’s life was the wisdom he developed. From his youth, David behaved “wisely in all his ways” (1st Sam 18:14).

David’s son Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, learned about wisdom from his father, and Solomon was the source of most of the instruction now incorporated into the book of Proverbs (Prov 4:3-5).

Wisdom, the proper application of the spirit of Yahweh’s Torah in every area of life, began for David with a deep reverence for Yahweh. He feared Yahweh and set his heart and attitude to obey Him.

What about you? Do you lack spiritual wisdom? Yahweh tells us to ask, in total faith, for wisdom, and He will give it in abundance (Jac 1:5).

Real repentance

The last spiritual characteristic David had is the most important. Without it, he would not have continued as a man after Yahweh’s own heart.

David practiced real repentance. David was not perfect. Like all of us, he occasionally stumbled. But when he saw his mistakes, he always admitted he was wrong and sought Yahweh with all his heart, to go the right way.

After his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah, for example, David totally repented before Yahweh. He knew he had not just committed sin. He, as a person, was wrong through and through. He repented not only of what he did, but of what he was.

In private before Yahweh, David cried out and asked that Yahweh would forgive him and restore His Spirit: “Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden parts You teach me wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I  shall  be  whiter  than snow… Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me out from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psa 51:6-7, 9-12).

Notice David’s intent and motive. He wanted with all his heart to continue to be used by Yahweh, to be on the right track spiritually (verses 13-15).

David knew Yahweh had to clean him up in order to use him. David’s motive was to give. He wanted with all his heart to help others know and obey Yahweh.

“For you do not desire sacrifice, or I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, You will not despise” (verses 16-17).

David was completely broken in this attitude of deep repentance. His self was shattered. And he knew that Yahweh required this contrition for his own good.

Yahweh, who looks on the heart, forgave and forgot David’s sins (2nd Sam 12:13). He only remembers the character David developed. That is why He describes David as a man after His own heart. If David had not admitted his sins and changed, Yahweh could not have said that about him.

The analysis of David in Acts 13:22, quoted at the beginning of this article, was recorded long after David died. Through faith, humility, loyalty to Yahweh’s government, patience, zeal, wisdom and real repentance, David overcame his human nature, developed righteous character and qualified for a high position in Yahweh’s coming Kingdom. He was a man after Yahweh’s own heart.

What will Yahweh say about you?