David had a heart of praise toward God. The book of Psalms is full of David’s songs of praise to God.

What kind of character did David have?
#3 David was a man of praise

David was a man who gave praise to God. He didn’t praise himself. But other people praised him.

Who praised David?
#1 Stephen (Acts 7:46)
#2 The people of Israel praised David (1 Samuel 18:6-7)

Even this day, the people of Israel believe that David was the greatest king. Even in the New Testament, they called Jesus the “Son of David” – they praised David in their language and manner of speech.

Do not praise yourself. Let your lifestyle testify to who you are.

That is what King David did. David did not praise himself. He praised God. He put himself in a very lowly place.

#3 David’s enemy, King Saul (1 Samuel 24:11-20)

While King Saul hunted David to kill him, David had the chance to kill him but spared his life. David had the chance to kill his enemy but he gave him to God. If you kill your enemy, they won’t have the chance to praise you. It is better to be a victim than to hurt other people. Love always wins. God will make everything right in His time. Do not take your own revenge. Let God take care of your enemy. Give your enemy to God, like David did.

God was very pleased with David’s actions.

#4 People close to David praised him (1 Chronicles 11:17-19)

His servants and those in his house praised him. When the king mumbled to himself that he wanted to drink water from a certain well, his servants broke through the enemy to get him water. This well was in a land that was in the hands of the enemy. It was very dangerous to go into that area, but they went there for him because of their love for him.

If people around you say good things about you, that is real. If someone sees you from a distance and praises you, that’s not really meaningful. They don’t know the real you. If your family praises you, that’s something. If those who are around you all of the time praise you, that is real. That means something.

The people around King David, those who were very close to him, praised him.

#5 God praised David

God called David a man after His own heart.

We need to pray that we live this life well and that we die well. If we finish the work of God, we will live and die well. Pray for God to help you build His kingdom, to be the person He wants you to be, to finish the work that He has for you.

Don’t let your work be unfinished. Finish the work that He gives you, for His honor and for His glory. Don’t give up. A heart that refuses to give up is a heart after God. A heart that praises is a heart after God.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun Hui East

Read other posts in the “Heart After God” Series:
A Heart After God is a Servant Heart
A Heart After God is a Repentant Heart
A Heart After God is a Heart of Praise