Men of the Heartਨਮੂਨਾ

A Worshipful Heart

To my brothers,

David—the psalmist, shepherd, king, and worshipper—is one of my favorite people ever.

It seems like he was one of the Lord’s favorites, too.

In Acts 13:22, the Apostle Paul teaches that the Lord Himself testified that David was a man after His own heart. The Lord so honored David that He brought forth Jesus, our Savior, from His lineage.

There’s so much about David that made him pleasing to the Lord, including his character, humility, passion, devotion, trust, and faith, imperfect as he was.

The question I find myself asking, then, is what makes this man “click?” What is it about the heart of David that so moved God’s?

I think the answer lies in the Book of Psalms, which gives us a direct glimpse into David’s internal life. When I read his psalms, I sometimes feel like I’m reading David’s diary entries. What a gift this is to us, as brothers aspiring to be men after God’s heart, too.

Among David’s writings, Psalm 63 stands as one of the most revealing scriptures about his heart.

In his commentary on the psalm, 18th-century theologian Matthew Henry breaks down five things that verses 1-8 reveal about David’s heart:

1. His desire for Him (Psalm 68:1-2)

2. His esteem of Him (Psalm 68:3-4)

3. His satisfaction in Him (Psalm 68:5)

4. His secret communion with Him (Psalm 68:6)

5. His joyful dependence on Him (Psalm 68:7-8).

In other words, David’s heart was so consumed with worship that he found all of his desire, esteem, satisfaction, communion, and dependence directed toward the Lord.

The reality is that a man’s desire, satisfaction, communion, dependence, and esteem will always be pointed at someone or something.

Every man worships—the question is who or what they’ll worship.

Directing all of His worship to the Lord was what David was evidently good at. I want to suggest that this heart of worship was the foundation of all that made Him a man after the Lord’s heart.

Fight for this heart of worship, my brothers.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for all You are, and that You can satisfy every need of mine. You are all-glorious, all-beautiful, all-powerful, and absolutely perfect—there is no lack in you. Consume me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, with the heart of worship that defined David, a man after Your heart. Amen.

Reflection: What or who do you practically worship in your life? What is the Lord asking of you to take your heart of worship to the next level?