Nehemiah 12:24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

It really struck me that here, as well as in verse 36, the descriptor for David is not as king, the man who unified the nation and established it as a secure regional power, but as “the man of God.” I can think of no higher honor. David was a deeply flawed individual, as are we all, but even after horrendous sin he repented and clung to God. He didn’t build a physical temple, but he prescribed and provided for worship, and it was for that that he was best remembered. His Psalms are justly loved and honored to this day, and they express both his humanity and his submission to God, because they are at times almost shockingly prophetic. The various events of his life, from his youth all the way to his old age, are certainly worth study and contemplation. We need to learn both how to emulate his good points and also how to avoid the traps that snared him so badly. His home life was a mess, as displayed in how his children turned out, but that was par for the course in those days. The Bible is unique in the literature of the day in that it records even its heroes as they were, “warts and all,” as Cromwell told the artist who was painting his portrait to do. David was certainly one of those heroes, and we must not let his negatives overshadow his remarkable positives.

As the son of a man who was greatly honored, even venerated, in some circles, I am very aware of what a mixed bag every human being is. I think it is very much to his credit that my father is best remembered much as David was: a man of God. His tombstone bears the inscription, “To do the will of Him who sent me.” He didn’t do it perfectly, as none of us do, but he did it with remarkable faithfulness. I can aspire to nothing higher. I am frequently reminded of my own failings. Just last night I went to bed not happy with myself, because I had failed to do several things that I felt were my responsibility. As a consequence, I woke up at 3:30 this morning, unable to sleep because of those things hanging over me. There’s no substitute for simply getting things done! Today and every day I am to be open and sensitive to my Lord, hearing what He has for me and following His schedule, not allowing the multitude of distractions deter me from full obedience, so that His will may be done for His glory.

Father, thank You for the various things I did get done yesterday, and that You will enable me to accomplish all I need to today. Help me discern Your priorities for each moment, not allowing the next thing to distract me from what needs to be done now. One one level that doesn’t seem related to David, but it is very much part of being a man of God, and that is what I desire to be, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!