Was David really 'a man after God's own heart'?

October 12, 12:41 PMMethodist ExaminerJames-Michael Smith

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King David - "a man after God's own heart", or "a man of God's own choosing?"

King David is one of the most famous figures in the entire Bible.

He is also one of the most fascinating.  From his rise to power from humble beginnings as a runt-of-the-litter shepherd-boy, to his murderous act of adultery with the beautiful Bathsheba, to his musical artistry in writing most of Israel's national prayers, the Psalms, David is a complex, heroic, and ultimately, tragic character in the drama of Israel's united monarchy.

However, the description of David in the Bible as being "a man after his [God's] own heart" in 1Sam. 13:14 (as well as Paul's use of the Greek equivalent in Acts 13:22)

has always troubled many readers.  This is because David's life is marred by numerous epic fails!  Adultery, murder, conspiracy, apathy, greed...how can anyone say that David's heart was like God's??

In fact, this phrase "after his own heart" (Hebrew: kilbabo) does not say anything at all about David's heart being "like God's", as many have taught.  David's heart is never portrayed as being more "like God's" than others in Scripture and as his latter years show, his heart was often quite sinful.

The Greek text of Acts 13 actually says that David was a man chosen "according to" (Greek: kata) God's heart and the original Hebrew prefix (k') of 1Sam. 1314 can also mean "according to."  In fact, in other places in the Hebrew Bible where the phrase kilbabo or a similar phrase is used regarding the heart it means something like "according to one's will" or "according to one's own decision":

"and according to your heart" (2Sam 7:21)

"that he had devised from his heart" (1Kgs 12:33)

"and according to your heart" (1Chr 17:19)

Based on this, as well as on David's checkered life story, it seems that the best way to read the passages about David being "a man after God's own heart" is as a description of David as "a man according to His heart", i.e. "a man of God's own choosing."

Thus, the text isn't saying anything about the character or disposition of David's heart (though most of the time David was a godly king and loyal to God overall).  Rather, it is referring to God's sovereign "heart" (i.e. His inward decision) to choose David to be king--an unlikely candidate at the time, especially in comparison to the physically impressive King Saul.

[For a more in-depth look at this common misinterpretation see:  Block, Daniel, "My Servant David: Ancient Israel's Vision of the Messiah," in Israel's Messiah in the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Ed. R. S. Hess and M. D. Carroll R. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003. Pp. 17-56.]