A Heart Like His by Beth Moore takes the reader through the life of King David. In this journey, you encounter key figures in David’s story that help expand and explain how David was called a man after God’s own heart.

What set King David apart was his intense love for God.

King David is known as the man after God’s own heart. What set David apart from those who came before him and those who came after? Studying the life of David shows us that David was a man of praise. He genuinely loved God.

With the first mention of David in 1 Samuel 16 through the end of his life, we are fascinated with David. David’s story begins a generation before with the birth of the prophet Samuel. David received the anointing to become king when he was still a boy, and Saul, also anointed by Samuel, was reigning. The story of David that unfolds is filled with intrigue, heartbreaks, and overwhelming favor. From a shepherd to a king, David is a man of character. As king, the crown weighs heavy, and we see chaos ensnare David as he steps out of God’s will.

In this summary, you will learn:

  • the backstory of king David;
  • the trials of David; and
  • David’s preparation for his successor.

David’s backstory is entrenched with obedience to God and seeking His face.

Before David was Saul, the king who grieved God and Samuel so much that God rejected Saul as king. God’s eye was on David, while Samuel continued to grieve for King Saul.

Samuel was obedient to God’s voice, however, and went to the sons of Jesse. Samuel was a respected and feared man, so his presence was unsettling. Samuel initially thought big brother Eliab was the chosen. It would not be Eliab. Rather it was a shepherd boy that would be anointed – a boy who likely preferred tending the sheep than dealing with older brothers, and a young man that had time on his hands to meditate on God.

David, we must remember, is a key figure in the genealogy of Christ. This genealogy rose out of the tribe of Judah. David’s life is a foreshadowing of the Savior to come.

Samuel anoints both Saul and David, showing that this prophet was an important biblical figure in his own right.

His mother, Hannah, prayed to the Lord for a son because she was barren. Hannah vowed if God gave her a son, he would be a Nazarite. The priest Eli found her praying and believed her drunk.

He addressed her conduct, and Hannah quickly explained that she was before the Lord, pouring out her heart. Eli dismissed her with a blessing of peace and the statement, “may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.”

Hannah obediently went on her way. We are told she ate, and her face was no longer sad. She walked away from that encounter with faith that her prayer was heard. Soon thereafter, the child Samuel arrives. True to her vow, when he was three, he was taken to the temple.

Eli raised Samuel in the temple with Eli’s sons, who disgraced the role of the priest in the temple with their abuses. During that corruption, Samuel grew into a mighty man of God. Eli recognized that God was speaking to Samuel and calling him to be His prophet.

The foundation from Hannah, the lessons from Eli, and perhaps seeing what not to do from Eli and his sons all molded a little boy into the greatest of the judges. Samuel would be the last judge before the Hebrew kings would arise.

Eli’s sons took the Ark into battle, seemingly as a sort of good luck charm. When God intervened, 30,000 Israelites fell in battle. The Ark is captured by the enemy, and the sons of Eli die. Upon learning the Ark was captured, Eli fell out of his chair and died of a broken neck. He had led the people for 40 years, and that was his legacy.

After being anointed king of Israel by Samuel, David went back to his sheep. It would be many years before David became the ruler of Israel, but this moment of anointing marked when the Holy Spirit departed from Saul and rested with David.

This resulted in Saul being tormented and young David being called to court to play the harp and soothe the king. Scripture says David was both a warrior and he played the harp. The two seem counter to one another, yet the tenderness of the artist and the toughness of the warrior are seen modeled in Christ as well as David.

Israel asked for a king, and they were given King Saul.

The people rejected God as their king and desired a king like the nations around them. Samuel warned them that with kings come forced servitude. And then God permitted them a king in the person of Saul.

Saul comes into the story chasing after lost donkeys. Samuel tells him he will be king. We see the first glimpse of self-centeredness as Saul states he is only a Benjamite. This would not be the last time his concern about how he looked to others would impede his purpose. This is being self-conscious instead of God-conscious. 

Samuel anointed Saul. Samuel told Saul a few things were about to happen. Those donkeys he had been chasing were already found. But Samuel told him that he would meet some people on the journey and about a group of prophets. When Saul encountered the prophets, it says, “God changed Saul’s heart.”

The next major event was Samuel bringing Israel together to present the new king. Once again, Saul hides, showing this self-conscious element in his character. Saul’s urge for acceptance and need to please others result in a weak foundation that ebbs with the approval of others…

Join Holy Reads to read the rest of A Heart Like His by Beth Moore book summary.

Download the App here and access 1,000+ bestselling Christian book summaries in written, audio, and video formats