When trying to understand what it takes to truly follow Jesus, looking at someone who has done it well before you is a good place to start.

As I thought through who would be a good example of a following Jesus’ teachings, several names from the Bible came to mind, but the one that stuck was King David. I know his story is in the old testament and occurred before Jesus ever walked the earth, but his life embodied several key teachings that Jesus modeled in His life here.

Commitment To God
In everything he did, David worked hard at honoring God and following him. It was not a mistake that David is referred to as “a man after God’s own heart.” We can see David’s heart all through the psalms.

We also see this commitment to honoring God through the actions of his life. His confrontation with Goliath was all about defending the honor of his God(1 Samuel 17). David, a teenager among soldiers, took on the mighty Goliath and killed him. He proved with one act that God can be trusted and that they just need to have faith.

On two occasions, David had the chance to kill Saul, who was chasing and trying to kill David, but he did not. His reason for not following his friends advice, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.(1 Samuel 24:6)”

Honoring God at all times and in all situations is a trademark that David followed throughout most of his life.

The Passion Of Following God
Again, we look at the confrontation with Goliath. David, in his passion for defending God, approached the king requesting that he be able to take on Goliath.

Pastor Greg Laurie pictured David coming before Saul and those in the room mocking him; doubting his ability to take on Goliath. As Saul offers David his armor and it renders David immobile, Laurie pictures more laughter and mocking. But David endured it because of the passion he had within him.

As the story continues, we see that passion again in the battle with Goliath. David did not tentatively move toward Goliath. It says he, “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him[Goliath].(I Samuel 17:48)” David had no doubt he would win in the strength of the Lord. The mighty Goliath fell and honor returned to God.

Keeping Connected To The Source Of Strength
David shared his heart with God. He did not keep anything from God and we see that so clearly in the psalms that he has written. In times of fear, anger, depression, and joy, David shared with God in honest communication about his needs, questions, and desires.

David truly chased after God’s heart by sharing his heart. I believe that this benefited David more than it did God. God knew where David was at and what He was feeling, but God cherished David’s desire to share the details of his life. It is the embodiment of James 4:8, which I have quoted many times but it is so true, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

He Sought A Right Relationship With God And Others
David sought a relationship with God. He worked at it. He made a choice to follow God with all his heart. David strived to make every event of his life count toward honoring God.

At the same time, he worked hard to have relationships with those around him that also honored God. He expressed forgiveness toward Saul and his enemies through his Psalms and through his actions (sparing Saul’s life). In his friendship with Jonathan, we see many examples of David honoring their friendship and commitment to each other.

David desired the same righteousness in his life that Jesus calls us to in his teachings. David wanted to love God with all his heart and love his neighbor as himself.

Chasing God While Being Human
Throughout his life, David’s commitment to God, his mission, and hunger to follow God represent the teachings of Jesus well. But it is important to remember that David was human. He made mistakes along the way (some really big ones), he was not perfect. But he continually returned to God and rested on the grace and forgiveness that comes from God.

Jesus does not desire perfection from our lives, but when we do mess up (and we will) He expects to return in humility and seek the forgiveness and grace that is available to us through Jesus.