I recently read a devotional that reminded me of several things about King David. I was reminded that David was a roller-coaster man. In his life he experienced many different roles and situations. He was everything from a shepherd to a king, from a respected military leader to a murderer, from a musician to a business man, and don’t forget how he danced in the streets nearly naked simply to praise his God. David was very passionate about life and yet experienced deep, deep sorrow and heart-pain. Through it all David was called (by God) "a man after God’s own heart". David’s story and especially the psalms he wrote, speak so powerfully to me concerning what it means to be "after God’s own heart".

David has at least two expressions in this Psalm. The first is his expression of honesty. He is honest with God about his pain and sorrow. He tells God in the first two thirds of the Psalm of his fear and questions. God can handle it. God is not surprised by David’s words and God in fact might just be asking David to speak of them. God might just be saying, "Tell me what you’re thinking." God asks many questions in the Bible but not because He doesn’t know the answers. God asks us, and invites us, into something more. Something real and something that changes everything.

This something is the second of David’s expressions. In verses 5-6, David expresses worship. The "but" starting verse 5 shows that David is bowing his knee. The situation he faces is dire. He can’t see the way out, but... David worships the one who has been faithful in the past. He worships the one who gives him breath. He worships the one who has saved him in the past. He can’t see or make sense of anything, but... he worships.

I want to be someone after God’s heart. I know that I can, in any and every situation, bend my knee. I can in my honesty to God, still get to the place of worship. I can. I will. Will you?

Slade Williams, Youth Pastor