David: The Godly Heart of a Sinful Man

To some people, saying that David had a godly heart is almost offensive. How do you apply that description to a man whose legacy includes neglecting responsibilities, lust, adultery, murder, deception, hypocrisy, and callous indifference? Saul, David's predecessor as king of Israel, was guilty of deliberate rebellion, but Scripture gives no account of him ever engaging in the kind of disgusting activity that characterized David's behavior during his sin with Bathsheba. Yet Saul, when he sought forgiveness, was rejected. What made David different? David: The Godly Heart of a Sinful Man examines David's heart, identifying specific character qualities that influenced his response when confronted with his sin. Humility, honesty, and confession were common, and it was evident that David cared more about getting right with God than defending his actions. There was no effort to justify his sin or excuse himself, and he never tried to shift the blame to others. David understood that God cared more about the contrite attitude of a broken heart than the false piety of an insincere sacrifice. He knew he would never, by his own efforts, meet God's standard of perfection. In Psalm 103:14 David stated: "He knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust." The essential message of David: The Godly Heart of a Sinful Man is that God does not expect an individual to be perfect; instead He desires a heart that is sensitive and responsive to the ministry of God's spirit.