Praying the Heart of David by Elmer Towns

Discover the Comfort, Peace, and Unfailing Love of God through David’s Prayers

“Praying the Heart of David,” conveys the sense of awesome wonder and the deep feeling of worship expressed in the reverent prayers of King David. This is another in the “Praying the Scriptures Series” by Golden Medallion winner, Elmer Towns.

The book is based on prayers taken from First and Second Samuel and First Chronicles. It is filled with a look into the significance of the life of Samuel on Israel’s history as judge, prophet, and as a recorder of an important season in that history. Dr. Towns unfolds spiritual lessons on listening to the voice of God through prayer and worship. He describes the patience of God as seen through Samuel’s life and in his writing.

Towns probes deeply into the person and motive of Saul. He shows how the power of sin and demonic influence changed Saul from a meek and humble young man to a selfish and mean despot. Saul’s disobedience parallels the way we often rebel against God’s Word today. Dr. Towns illustrates how Saul’s sinful offences are an example of the pattern, progression and cycle of remorse, confession, and repentance. This illustration is typical of the many personal applications included throughout the book.

David is described as complex, sometimes compassionate, tender, and generous, and “a man after God’s own heart.” David’s life communicates the care and gentleness of a shepherd as evidenced in the beloved 23rd Psalm.
He was also shown as being fierce in battle and scheming in his double sin with Uriah and Bathsheba.

The book details the life of David, the slaying of Goliath, his friendship with Jonathan, Saul’s jealousy, Samuel’s anointing, and of the death of Absalom. Interspersed within the narrative (Towns own paraphrase of these scriptures) are the prayers of David from the Psalms.

David’s anguish, desperation, and complete trust and love for God come to life as Towns brilliantly makes it possible for the reader to transcend time and place as they experience and share in David’s presence with God through prayer. David’s victory celebrations, family disappointments, his spiritual failure, sin and confession all become real to the reader. Bringing the reader to a sense of conviction of personal sin and to a recognition of the amazing grace of God’s forgiveness are an indication of God’s anointing on Dr. Town’s writing.

“Praying the Heart of David” provides evidence of the power of God given to David as a result of his persistence in prayer and worship. The reader is encouraged to use David’s prayers as a guide to move forward in their pursuit of becoming “a man after God’s own heart.”

Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. ,978-0768430967

As reviewed for Midwest Book Review

Praying the Heart of David by Elmer Towns