CROWNED WITH HOPE—HIS SERVICE: David’s Preparation and Equipping

One of the chief purposes that God has in making us wait is to teach us.  This is an essential time to prepare us for what God in His time will accomplish in and by us.  Something has to be done to us, before something can be done through us.

·        A SHEPHERD—Preparation for His Work.

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”  So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)

David would shepherd God’s people someday and so there was no better way to equip him than to literally care for a flock.  Too often we are looking for the big opportunity rather than being faithful in the place God has us—not understanding that He is getting us ready for more.  The Biblical principle is that if we are faithful in little things, we can be entrusted with larger things.

·        A SINGER—Preparation for His Worship.

So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”  Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.”  Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”  And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.  So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.  Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”  And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. (1 Samuel 16:17-23) 

David would not only someday lead Israel into war, he would lead them into worship!  How many Psalms would this man write!  The worship of God would be a keynote of his life—this man after God’s own heart.  To love God with all our being is priority.  Our intimacy with Him must precede being an instrument for Him.  Time spent in communion with God is never wasted—but to try to bear fruit apart from this connection with the True Vine is impossible!

·        A SOLDIER—Preparation for His Warfare.

Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.   So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.  ‎And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.  ‎So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  ‎And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”   Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  ‎This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  ‎Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”   So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.   Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.  ‎So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.  ‎Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.  (1 Samuel 17:40-51) 

Old Goliath had defied the armies of God and mocked the Lord.  David wouldn’t let that go.  It has been said, it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog!  Boot camp is never a fun part of a soldier’s preparation, but it is indispensable.  If a warrior isn’t disciplined there then the odds of returning safely and successfully from the battlefield are slim.  After time spent as Saul’s armor-bearer and then a young champion downing Goliath, David was ready to lead the troops himself.  God may have you in basic training!  That’s tough—but it will toughen you up, and you’ll need that for where God is sending you is into a world that isn’t a playground, but a battleground!