"All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, '...the Lord your God said to you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'" 1 Chronicles 11:2. Isn't God's choice of words to David interesting? "...You will shepherd my people..." David was being promoted from shepherding sheep to shepherding people. David's faithfulness in the first responsibility made him eligible for the second. "For who has despised the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10. These are words the prophet Zechariah received in a message from the Lord. The New Living records it like this: "Do not despise these small beginnings..."
Dear loved one in the Lord, be encouraged! Stay faithful! Lack of recognition, adversity---these do not mean you are on the wrong track. Listen to that still small voice. Be obedient and remember: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9. David's journey from clutching a shepherd's staff to a scepter was a long one.
"Now the Lord said to Samuel, 'How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse...for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons." 1 Samuel 16:1. Jesse lived in Bethlehem. When Samuel got there, he told the elders of the city that he had come to sacrifice to the Lord. He invited the elders to the sacrifice. He also invited Jesse and his sons. "When they entered, he (Samuel) looked at Eliab and thought,'Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him.' But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7. Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of the great heroes of the faith. Samuel's name appears in the list. Samuel---this awesome man of God, a prophet---would have chosen the wrong man to be the next king of Israel. We have to give him some credit. Apparently Eliab was extremely good-looking and tall. Samuel didn't know Jesse had another son who wasn't present. Which brings up an important point. Why wasn't David in the room? After seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, he said, "...the Lord has not chosen these...are these all the sons you have?" Look at Jesse's reply, "There is still the youngest...but he is tending the sheep."
I may be wrong, but I'm thinking being invited to attend a sacrifice with Samuel, the known prophet of God, and the elders of the city, was a big deal for Jesse's family. You would think that maybe Jesse could have found another shepherd for the day, and made sure David was there with the rest of the men of his family. From Jesse's answer to Samuel we get the impression that David wasn't the most significant son in his earthly father's eyes, but he was the most significant in his Heavenly Father's eyes, at least for this assignment.
David's mission from God wasn't recognized by the man of God, nor by his father. Precious soul, the only recognition that matters is God's. He is well aware of your faithfulness. Don't worry about being overlooked for a promotion, because you are not in the right place at the right time. In the same verse from Zechariah which made reference to not despising the small things, or small beginnings, these words are also recorded: "...the eyes of the Lord...range to and fro throughout the earth." God saw David, way out in the field, being faithful to tend the sheep. He called him to the sacrifice when it was time for him to be promoted. "'Send for him at once,' Samuel said, 'We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.' So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and handsome, with pleasant eyes. And the Lord said, 'This is the one; anoint him.' So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David's head. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him from that day on..." 1 Samuel 16:11-13.
Although David was anointed as the one God had designated as the king, he didn't get to take the throne for a long time. The Bible informs us that the Spirit of the Lord left Saul. He began to be tormented by an evil spirit. It so happens that none other than David was summoned to be in the king's service, to play his harp to soothe Saul. He also became one of his armor-bearers. 1 Samuel 17:15 says, "But David went back and forth between working for Saul and helping his father with the sheep in Bethlehem."
We have a tendency to want to skip the back and forth times. What a contrast there must have been for David between the pastures and the palace. Surely he would have preferred to remain in the comfort and luxury of the palace, but God still had lessons for him to learn in the pasture. As much as we would like to get to the palace and stay, I'm pretty sure the exclusivity of palace life is reserved for heaven.
David had back and forth times for a while. Eventually evil Saul became jealous of him and was determined to kill him. David had to flee to the wilderness and was forced to live in hiding. After Saul's death, he finally took the throne, his place of destiny. God was faithful to David. Job 23:14 says: "...He performs what is appointed for me..."
So dear one, where are you at today? Do you feel like the overlooked, insignificant one who is stuck out in the back forty watching the dumb sheep, while the rest of the family is at a celebration? Or, are you on the edge of seeing your hopes fulfilled? Are you seesawing back and forth, trying to balance the hum-drum and what your heart desires---going between the pasture and the palace. Maybe you are certain of God's call, you spent some time in the palace, but now you are having to face adversaries who are bent on destroying you and keeping you from your destiny, so you have fled to the wilderness. Wherever you are, David can relate. More importantly, Jesus can relate. 1) He was out in the back forty until He was thirty years old. He only had three years of public ministry. 2) At His baptism he was pronounced royalty---God's Son---and immediately He had to go back to obscurity. He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days. 3) David fled and escaped his adversaries, but Jesus' enemies killed Him.
From the world's point of view, Jesus probably didn't live a very successful life, but God repeatedly said of Him: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." We may not feel like we ever reach the palace during this lifetime, but Jesus assured us that there are "many mansions" that have been prepared for us in the next one. And, when you feel like you are far from the realization of what you were created for, remember this verse (Ephesians 2:6) that expresses the true present reality of every born-again believer: "...God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms." That sounds like thrones to me!
I began these thoughts today with verse 2 of 1 Chronicles, chapter 11. The people of Israel were reminding David that the Lord had said he would shepherd His people. In that same verse, just before this, the people had said these words to David: "In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns..." Beloved of the Lord, let those words sink in. "...even while Saul was king, you were the one who led..." David was gifted to be a shepherd, a leader. He operated in that gift faithfully wherever he was. When he only had sheep to lead, he led sheep. After killing Goliath his gift of leadership flowed and he was doing the job of a king, leading military campaigns, even though he was not yet sitting on the throne. When he fled from Saul, he rallied men and led them. Wherever you find yourself, pasture or palace, "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might!"
Dear loved one in the Lord, be encouraged! Stay faithful! Lack of recognition, adversity---these do not mean you are on the wrong track. Listen to that still small voice. Be obedient and remember: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9. David's journey from clutching a shepherd's staff to a scepter was a long one.
"Now the Lord said to Samuel, 'How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse...for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons." 1 Samuel 16:1. Jesse lived in Bethlehem. When Samuel got there, he told the elders of the city that he had come to sacrifice to the Lord. He invited the elders to the sacrifice. He also invited Jesse and his sons. "When they entered, he (Samuel) looked at Eliab and thought,'Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him.' But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7. Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of the great heroes of the faith. Samuel's name appears in the list. Samuel---this awesome man of God, a prophet---would have chosen the wrong man to be the next king of Israel. We have to give him some credit. Apparently Eliab was extremely good-looking and tall. Samuel didn't know Jesse had another son who wasn't present. Which brings up an important point. Why wasn't David in the room? After seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, he said, "...the Lord has not chosen these...are these all the sons you have?" Look at Jesse's reply, "There is still the youngest...but he is tending the sheep."
I may be wrong, but I'm thinking being invited to attend a sacrifice with Samuel, the known prophet of God, and the elders of the city, was a big deal for Jesse's family. You would think that maybe Jesse could have found another shepherd for the day, and made sure David was there with the rest of the men of his family. From Jesse's answer to Samuel we get the impression that David wasn't the most significant son in his earthly father's eyes, but he was the most significant in his Heavenly Father's eyes, at least for this assignment.
David's mission from God wasn't recognized by the man of God, nor by his father. Precious soul, the only recognition that matters is God's. He is well aware of your faithfulness. Don't worry about being overlooked for a promotion, because you are not in the right place at the right time. In the same verse from Zechariah which made reference to not despising the small things, or small beginnings, these words are also recorded: "...the eyes of the Lord...range to and fro throughout the earth." God saw David, way out in the field, being faithful to tend the sheep. He called him to the sacrifice when it was time for him to be promoted. "'Send for him at once,' Samuel said, 'We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.' So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and handsome, with pleasant eyes. And the Lord said, 'This is the one; anoint him.' So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David's head. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him from that day on..." 1 Samuel 16:11-13.
Although David was anointed as the one God had designated as the king, he didn't get to take the throne for a long time. The Bible informs us that the Spirit of the Lord left Saul. He began to be tormented by an evil spirit. It so happens that none other than David was summoned to be in the king's service, to play his harp to soothe Saul. He also became one of his armor-bearers. 1 Samuel 17:15 says, "But David went back and forth between working for Saul and helping his father with the sheep in Bethlehem."
We have a tendency to want to skip the back and forth times. What a contrast there must have been for David between the pastures and the palace. Surely he would have preferred to remain in the comfort and luxury of the palace, but God still had lessons for him to learn in the pasture. As much as we would like to get to the palace and stay, I'm pretty sure the exclusivity of palace life is reserved for heaven.
David had back and forth times for a while. Eventually evil Saul became jealous of him and was determined to kill him. David had to flee to the wilderness and was forced to live in hiding. After Saul's death, he finally took the throne, his place of destiny. God was faithful to David. Job 23:14 says: "...He performs what is appointed for me..."
So dear one, where are you at today? Do you feel like the overlooked, insignificant one who is stuck out in the back forty watching the dumb sheep, while the rest of the family is at a celebration? Or, are you on the edge of seeing your hopes fulfilled? Are you seesawing back and forth, trying to balance the hum-drum and what your heart desires---going between the pasture and the palace. Maybe you are certain of God's call, you spent some time in the palace, but now you are having to face adversaries who are bent on destroying you and keeping you from your destiny, so you have fled to the wilderness. Wherever you are, David can relate. More importantly, Jesus can relate. 1) He was out in the back forty until He was thirty years old. He only had three years of public ministry. 2) At His baptism he was pronounced royalty---God's Son---and immediately He had to go back to obscurity. He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days. 3) David fled and escaped his adversaries, but Jesus' enemies killed Him.
From the world's point of view, Jesus probably didn't live a very successful life, but God repeatedly said of Him: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." We may not feel like we ever reach the palace during this lifetime, but Jesus assured us that there are "many mansions" that have been prepared for us in the next one. And, when you feel like you are far from the realization of what you were created for, remember this verse (Ephesians 2:6) that expresses the true present reality of every born-again believer: "...God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms." That sounds like thrones to me!
I began these thoughts today with verse 2 of 1 Chronicles, chapter 11. The people of Israel were reminding David that the Lord had said he would shepherd His people. In that same verse, just before this, the people had said these words to David: "In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns..." Beloved of the Lord, let those words sink in. "...even while Saul was king, you were the one who led..." David was gifted to be a shepherd, a leader. He operated in that gift faithfully wherever he was. When he only had sheep to lead, he led sheep. After killing Goliath his gift of leadership flowed and he was doing the job of a king, leading military campaigns, even though he was not yet sitting on the throne. When he fled from Saul, he rallied men and led them. Wherever you find yourself, pasture or palace, "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might!"
