David: A Man After God's Own Heart

by J. Vernon McGee

The Bible calls David "a man after God's own heart." But what does that really mean and how does that apply to us today? With his unusual warmth, clarity, and simplicity, Dr. McGee takes a look at the life of David, helping readers move beyond the exciting action stories and into the heart of what David's experiences have to teach us. Dr. McGee said, "Perhaps the most familiar Bible story to every boy and girl who has attended Sunday School is that of David and Goliath. It is a thrilling action story. But the greater thrill is the splendid spiritual truths that are applicable to our present-day lives as believers."

Genres: Christian

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2000

About the author

John Vernon McGee was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1904. Dr. McGee remarked, "When I was born and the doctor gave me the customary whack, my mother said that I let out a yell that could be heard on all four borders of Texas!" His Creator well knew that he would need a powerful voice to deliver a powerful message.

As a student pastor, Dr. McGee's first church was located on a red clay hill in Midway, Georgia. It was there that he received his greatest compliment: "It was from a country boy wearing high buttoned, yellow shoes. After a morning service he came to speak to me. He groped for words, then blurted out, 'I never knew Jesus was so wonderful!' He started to say more but choked up and hurried out of the church. As I watched him stride across the field, I prayed, 'Oh, God, help me to always preach so that it can be said, I never knew Jesus was so wonderful.'"

After completing his education (earning his A.B. from Southwestern University in Memphis, Tennessee; his B.D. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas), and after pastoring Presbyterian churches in Decatur, GA, Nashville, TN, and Cleburne, TX, he and his wife came west, settling in Pasadena, where he accepted a call to the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church. He recalls this period as the happiest in his life, with a young family and a young congregation whom he loved.

Dr. McGee's greatest pastorate was at the historic, Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, where he served from 1949 to 1970. There he began a daily radio broadcast called "High Noon Bible Class" on a single station.

Dr. McGee began teaching Thru the Bible in 1967. After retiring from the pastorate, he set up radio headquarters in Pasadena, and the radio ministry expanded rapidly. Today the program airs on over 400 stations each day in the United States and Canada, is heard in more than 100 languages around the world and is broadcast worldwide via the Internet.

Reviews

[Anita Brewster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I read it. It was a little dated and not quite as in-depth as I would have wished.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

J. Vernon McGee wrote a lot of books in his lifetime. He preached many sermons and had a radio ministry. He has a commentary on the whole Bible. With all of that, I feel a bit inadequate and haughty passing judgment on his writing of this book. That being said, the book is a bit dated and shows the doctrinal, theological, stylistic, and interpretive biases indicative of his era and experience. For instance, he assumed that David knew how events of his life foreshadowed specific events in Jesus' life. He attempts to contemporize Psalm 23 ineffectively. With the negative covered, allow me to say that he has done a great job of helping us to see some of the heart of David and how that is instructive for us and how our hearts should be toward God. As a devotional book, this can be helpful, but as deep, theological or exegetical study of the passages covered, not so much.

[TommyLovesEli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read from the pastor who got me saved, even after he died, due to the "Thru the Bible" radio program. He's written other good books I've read by him to, but begin with the "Thru the Bible" in five books and a concordance first for any purchase of his work.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read godly books like this the more I know it's all I want to read. They keep me inspired to know God more and study his word. 💖

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book!

[Judangra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book on this review of why David was a man after God's own heart. He failed as we all do, but always returned to God.