Where are the David's?

I find it pretty difficult to read the books of the Bible that describe the life and works of all the kings. It's gory, filled with violence and fighting, and repetitive. I often wonder why God felt it so important to put some of those things into the Bible.

Today, however, my thoughts have been captured and held tenaciously. Every king is compared to David. Phrases like "he wasn't at all like his ancestor David" and "he did not walk in the ways of his father David." This is not the first time I've seen this and commented on it. However, today a new thought caught my pondering mind.

I really hate to be compared to others. Comparisons make me crazy. You get a new job and you hear, "That's not the way we did it when the other person was in charge." "The other person was so much more easy going than you are." Or let's take it one step further. Getting compared to a brother or a sister. Now that's down right dangerous territory.

Now I'm wanting to know, what's so very special about David. I've heard a lot of messages about David, so I think on this for a while. Here's what I see.

• David was not afraid to spend time alone and in the presence of God.
• David was passionate about defending God.
  
• David was unafraid to fight people bigger than he was because he was confident in who he was fighting for.
• David ministered to people in need. He took bread to his family and he played the harp when the king was troubled.
  
• David honored the anointed authority God placed over him, even when that person of authority was in the wrong.
• David led people who were discouraged.
• David recognized the service and sacrifice of others and its value. He would not even drink the water his men had risked so much to bring to him.
  
• David understood the power of praise. He was able to encourage himself in the Lord.
• David did not care who was around when he danced unto the Lord.
• David received counsel from the prophets and responded appropriately. Repented when he had done wrong and moved according to the word when given divine direction.
  
• David suffered great loss due to his sins, accepted the judgment of God and renewed his relationship with God.
• David had family problems and took them to God.
• David's accepted the partial fulfillment of his dream without hating God. His dream was realized through his son Solomon.
  

This list is not by any means comprehensive. However, these are the things that readily come to mind when thinking through the life of David. It's pretty impressive to review. What a man! What a resume! From shepherd boy to king he is an incredible example. No wonder the succeeding kings were compared to David. The bar was set pretty high.

What I remember most that pulls at my memory and I have not listed is that David was known as a man after God's own heart. This phrase was said about David when he was a young man. He was still a shepherd boy. He had not yet killed Goliath nor had he played his harp in the palace. He had not yet led the armies of Israel and the band of discouraged men. What he had was a real relationship with God. He knew God.

It was not who David knew, his network of great people, that made him the top candidate for king. It was not David's charisma or pedigree that made him God's choice. It was his relationship with God that set him apart from everyone else. Succeeding kings did not build the type of relationship David had with God and God was displeased with them. Some managed to have a relationship with God, but they "did not tear down the high places". Their leadership was weak in that they let people do what pleased them.

Now I feel challenged. Where are the David's? I look within and I wonder if I were the one they were writing about today in the book of Kings, what would that last sentence look like? Would it read, "and she did not walk in the ways of her father David?"

I feel lucky today. I am not at the end of my journey in this life. I have a chance to work on my relationship with God. So, I ask myself, and you my friend, these questions:

• When was the last time you spent more than a few minutes in the Word of God meditating on what you've read and applying it to your life?
• When was the last time you didn't care who was around you and you worshiped God with abandon?
• When was the last time you put your own self-will on the back burner and did what God told you to do?
• When was the last time you sang praises to God and basked in the glow of fellowship between you and God alone?
• When was the last time you enjoyed time with God so much that you never wanted to leave that place?

I sincerely pray that these thoughts will encourage you to grow in your relationship with God. As for me, I want more of God in my life. I want to know God! I want to be a woman after God's own heart! I've got some relationship building to do.