Dr Brad Stewart

Righteousness - A Man After God's Heart Dr Brad Stewart

Next to Jesus, the Scriptures cover more of David's life than any other man. David, Israel's greatest king, is one of the most amazing men who ever lived. He is known as being a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) yet his life is filled with similar ups and downs as those faced by most men today. In some situations he displayed deep faith and trust in God while other times he sounds depressed and discouraged. In other situations he made horrible decisions that impacted his family, his work, and his community. Through all of his ups and downs, he still maintains his faith. Consequently, there are things in David's life which we should emulate and things which we should avoid. Therein lies the hope for God's men today. This Bible study was developed to help you study the Scriptures, discover the greatness and flaws of this king, and make applications in your life so you can emulate the godly parts of David's life and avoid the harsh consequences of disobedience. David's early reign reveals military victories and national triumphs. After seven more years, his kingdom expands to include sovereignty over all Israel. As king, he sets up Jerusalem as the capital city and tries to bring the Ark of the Covenant back into its proper place. Eager to promote God's name, David seeks God's blessing to build a temple in the heart of Jerusalem. However, for God David shed too much blood. God gives David a greater promise that from his line, his kingdom will never end. His continued triumphs come to an end when he is captivated by the beauty of a bathing woman, commits adultery, and then attempts to cover up his sin by manipulating her husband. When this fails, he has him murdered in battle. Nathan the prophet confronts David with his sin and our fallen hero repents.