Writer Beware! Don’t Make King David’s Fatal Mistake

by Lori Hatcher

I’ve learned many lessons from King David, the “man after God’s own heart,” but one in particular applies well to my writing life. 

Picture the scene: God has protected David from Saul, his maniacal predecessor; instated him as king over all twelve tribes of Israel; and blessed him with material and military success. His heart overflows with gratitude toward God for the way He has led him from his father’s sheepfolds to the king’s palace.

God’s been so good to me, I imagine David thinking. I want to do something to express my love for Him. Hey, what about the ark? It’s been sitting in Kiriath-jearim for decades. It should be here with me, in Jerusalem, not stuck aside in some guy’s house.

So “David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people” (1 Chronicles 13:1–4).

The more David thinks about it, the more excited he becomes. He outfits a fancy cart, hires some muscle to hoist the ark onto it, and trots off toward Jerusalem. That’s when disaster strikes. The oxen pulling the cart stumbles, Uzzah reaches out to steady it, and he dies at the hand of the Lord.

By now you’re probably wondering what in the world this story has to do with your writing life.

I’m glad you asked.

I see myself in David, and maybe you will, too. I love God and want to serve Him with my gift of writing. I’m grateful for the way He has kept me, provided for me, and given me purpose and joy. 

On days when my heart swells to bursting, I want to do something—anything—for Him.

So I think up things. Maybe I’ll start a blog. Or write a book. Or launch a speaking ministry. Or ______. Or _____. Or _____!

I share my ideas with friends, colleagues, mentors, and then I tell everyone I know. I stick some Christianese on it, of course, as David did. “If it’s God’s will . . . .”

But I miss something very important.

I talk to everyone BUT God about my great ideas.

Nowhere in this biblical account does David ask God what He thinks. Or ask permission. Or read Scripture to try to discern God’s will. He didn’t consult his spiritual advisors, either. He just summoned them to come along (after all, who says no to the king?).

Like David, I sometimes get ahead of God. My motives are good, but they’re my motives. Sometimes my ideas come from God, but sometimes they come from my own head. How can I tell the difference?

The longer I walk with God and the longer I write for God, I’m learning to put every significant writing idea to this three-step test:

• 1. Have I prayed about it and earnestly sought God’s will? Did the idea come to me while praying or actively seeking direction (that’s usually a good sign)? As I pray about it, does the desire grow stronger or weaker?

• 2. Have I consulted with wise mentors and sought their honest counsel or just their rubber stamp of approval?

• 3. Have I looked for biblical principles that apply to the decision? Are there any red flags or warnings to consider? Am I going about it in a way that obeys God’s Word and honors His ways?

Three months passed between David’s first attempt to bring the ark into Jerusalem and his second. In the interval, David applied the lessons he’d learned from his fiasco. He consulted God’s Word, confessed his sins of presumption and carelessness, and made every attempt to do God’s work God’s way (1 Chronicles 15:13). Scripture doesn’t tell us, but I suspect he also had a repentant conversation with God and asked His forgiveness and blessing. 

The result?

“David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing” (v. 25).

Isn’t this what we want? To serve God with our writing life efficiently and effectively with joy? 

God wants this for us too. 

As we seek His will in prayer, consult wise counselors, and obey His Word, God promises to lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. James 1:5 reminds us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

May all your writing endeavors accomplish His purposes and bring Him glory!

~Lori

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Lori Hatcher is a freelance editor, writing instructor, and author of six devotionals with Our Daily Bread Publishing. Her latest book, THINK ON THESE THINGS: 60 THOUGHTFUL DEVOTIONS FOR RENEWED PEACE, released this month. Lori writes for Revive Our Hearts, Guideposts, Focus on the Family, The Upper Room, and Crosswalk.com. A frequent instructor at writers conferences around the country, Lori loves nothing better than helping other writers polish and perfect their craft. Connect with her at WWW.LORIHATCHER.COM.