Wednesday 6 May 2026

Psalm 40:1-10

Background
Paul is preaching here one of his first recorded sermons. It’s to a Jewish congregation in a synagogue, so while Paul is preaching about Jesus, he is emphasising Jesus’ role as the fulfilment of Jewish history, and particularly that Jesus is the descendant and true heir of King David, the greatest of all the old Israelite kings. (David reigned from c. 1010 – 970 BC, so roughly 1000 years prior to the ministry of Jesus.)

David was initially a shepherd boy, but became ruler over the kingdom of Israel because he was described by God as “A man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.” (v. 22) It could be argued no one has ever received a greater commendation or title than this. We know that all humanity has been created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27), and yet no one else has ever been described as a man (or woman) after God’s own heart. Not until Jesus came in the flesh would another human being ever embody so much of God’s heart in their own life.

So what is it that led God to describe David in such exalted terms? Yes, it was partly his obedience, since God states that "he will carry out all my wishes." But I believe it’s more than this. David was a man after God’s heart because he was a warrior and a worshipper.

We see David the warrior from the early stories of him in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 17 he defeats the enemy giant Goliath in single combat at the tender age of 15, and is confident enough to do this because since childhood, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it.” (1 Samuel 17:34-35) When injustice happens and the weak are threatened, David had a warrior’s courage and would go out to fight. In all his 40 years as king his troops never lost a battle.

Yet even before being a warrior, we see that David was a worshipper. In 1 Samuel 16 we learn that he “knows how to play the harp… And the Lord is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:18). David loved to praise God, and wrote more of the psalms than any other author. Many of them were written during his times as a general or as king – clearly he did not allow being very busy to prevent him from the important task of praise.

David was not perfect: at times he was a liar, an adulterer, a murderer and a poor father. But as a warrior and a worshipper he was a man after God’s heart.

To Ponder:

• How are you worshipping God regularly? When are the times when you are most freely lost in the ability to praise God?
• How are you currently being a warrior for God? Where are you making a stand for good and defending the weak?
• What would need to change in you, for you to be described as 'a person after God’s heart'?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be a person after your own heart. Help me to grow a spirit of worship that always delights in praising you. And help me to grow a spirit of the warrior, ready to stand up for you and defend those who are in need. Help me to remain obedient to you, always listening, and always ready to do everything you want me to do. Amen.

Bible notes author: Mark Williamson
Mark Williamson works for One Rock International, helping Christian leaders to start up and scale up mission projects. Methodist lay leaders are invited to join the next online One Rock Institute course of training and coaching in Christian leadership, starting in September 2026 – see https://onerockinternational.com/institute/.  Mark is also chair of Fresh Expressions UK, a local preacher, and a member of Methodist Central Hall Westminster.