out there

Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love. ~Psalms 109:26


Why is it said that David was a man after God own heart (1 Sam 13:14)? Why was he any different than all the other kings before or after him?


Was it because he was a warriors warrior, killing tens of thousands, even before he was king?
Was it because he was a great outdoors man, a skilled archer and an accomplished hunter?
Was it because he was a true survivalist that would put "Man vs. Wild" to shame.
Or maybe it was because he was a good looking, smooth talking ladies man that was totally into poetry and classical music?


Though all of those things are absolutely who David was, I believe none of them are the reason he captured the heart of the father. What separates David from most of us is his ability to be 100% honest. When he was angry, he strapped on armour and fought, when he was sad, he cried out to God no matter who was around. When he fell into sin, he did not hide it. When he wanted something from God everyone new it because he was usually face down in the dirt fasting and praying for it. When God made a decision, he accepted it because what's done is done. When he worshiped, he worshiped with his whole heart, no matter where he was or who he was around, totally uninhibited.


On the other hand, when we get angry we grunt and cuss and kick the dog. When we are sad, we stiffen our lip and acknowledge we're okay, not wanting anyone to know we are hurting. When we fall into sin, we go to unbelievable lengths to hide it and cover it up, afraid of what others will think of us.  When we want something from God, we passively tell our friends to "keep me in your prayers" because I have some unspoken prayer requests. When God makes a decision, we throw a tantrum inside our heads, wondering what it ever was that we did to deserve this. When we worship, it's usually at a football game or a rock concert. We are not 100% honest with God or others.


Many times the bible speaks about the light and the darkness. In the light all things are exposed and known but in the darkness all things are hidden. David was able to drag his junk into the light for all to see. Nothing was covered up or hidden. He was totally exposed for all to see. The one time he tried to hide his sin, was when he got another man's wife pregnant, so he had her husband killed before he discovered it. However, God confronted him through Samuel and when that happened, he didn't continue to cover it up, he repented and he cried out to God for mercy. Then the whole kingdom knew what David did. It was dragged out into the light.


I think David was a man after God's own heart because David loved the light and hated the darkness. He couldn't stand to keep a secret hidden, he had to expose all to the light.


How much could we learn from David about just being honest and open about where we are? About admitting our faults and confessing our sins? About how much we really need God and his unfailing love? It seems the more we try to hide things by pretending everything is okay, the harder it is to talk to or even hear from God. God loves us so much, nothing is hidden from him and though we deserve it, He doesn't smoke us where we stand.


My prayer is that God will give us the key to peoples hearts here in Miami. That when we talk to people, the hard crusty shell that hides their hearts crumbles away allowing the light to shine in, driving the darkness away.