April 22, 2021

I love reading about David and I usually come away with familiar feelings common to all of us but; sometimes God causes a passage to pop and this time was one of those occasions for me.

A little background, when David was anointed as king both Samuel and the father Jesse pretty much undervalued & estimated David. Samuel thought any of the older brothers might have been the next king and dad didn’t even think it possible until left with no other options. Remember the familiar verse 1 Samuel 16: 7 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.”

Moving forward with the story after Samuel found out there was this boy, likely between the age of 10-15, and insisting that he be brought to the house; the following happened. 1 Samuel 16: 13-14 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. Decisive is the Lord in His purpose and timing.

My father taught me repeatedly; at the time I thought of it as harping on the subject, it was this; “Find something you like about working because you are going to have do it for most of the rest of your life.” Looking back through life, it may be the best advice I ever received. So, were all the jobs given me pleasant; absolutely not, for some the only thing I liked about them was that they were done but, that unfortunately is life in a fallen world. Now, let’s get back to young David, that time he spent watching his father’s sheep was not wasted even though he likely had no idea how it was going to be used later in his life.

His job considered the lowest on the totem pole; in spite of that, he didn’t waste, kill, or just put in his time. First, he practiced caring for those creatures that couldn’t care for themselves; that sounds like what a king should do. Second, he had time, stones, and a slingshot; you know what he did, he became extremely accurate with the weapon, probably provided himself tasty meals. Just guessing here but, I doubt that dear old dad wanted young David eating the profit of the family livestock operation; and for sure he couldn’t just jump on the, “Gator,” and drop by the house for lunch. Young David was in the practice we now would call rotational grazing. Finally, with the time he wasn’t warding off, “The Big Bad Wolf, Bear or Lion,” he was practicing on his harp. No, not the mental image of the harp common today, in David’s day it was more like what we consider a guitar, this would make it easy to pack and comfortable to practice. Picture David with plenty of time and even incentive to practice. Remember the verse, John 10: 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; why do you suppose Jesus used that word picture; I believe it’s because it is absolutely true, not just for us as believers but, first because it was and is true of these wooly creatures. So, these hours David spent practicing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs had multiple purpose; they made use of what could have been very boring periods, they allowed him to focus on the God of all creation, and they kept his flock attentive and contented.

Now, fast forward to the time shortly after David is anointed king, not yet installed. I wonder what form the Spirit of the Lord coming mightily on David, from verse 13 above took. He had gone back to the sheep, no sense of privilege, just commitment to doing what he was doing before, almost like nothing in his life had changed. Shortly however, and we’re not told how this news traveled but, this son of Jesse is recommended to king Saul to ease the influence of the evil spirit that the Lord has now allowed to torment the king. Not sure how the word had gotten out but, see what it says in 1 Samuel 16: 18 Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.”

Now I wonder what was going through David’s mind when he got the call to minister music to the king? That’s a long way from the sheep pasture but, here’s the really cool thing; he was ready, because rather than wasting time wishing life was different when he was all alone, he found something about the work that he enjoyed and by God’s grace excelled at.

I don’t know about all of you but, for me most of what I do doesn’t seem to have world changing impact. You may be changing a diaper, making or selling a widget, cultivating a field, or just having a conversation with someone having joy, doubt, or pain in their life. Remember it is God appointed, it’s not just doing chores, don’t waste it.

There is a story from back in the days when the great cathedrals in Europe were being built. These buildings were so large and ornate that they weren’t built in years, not decades, many of them took centuries to complete. It is said that a man went up to one of these workmen and asked him what he was building and the man crossly responded that he was building a wall; and the tone of voice was that anyone short of a complete idiot should know that without asking. The same man walked up to another mason and asked him what he was building; that workman laid down his trowel, looked at the wall around him, and then looked upward before turning back to the questioner and saying, “I’m building a cathedral.” That man was living with purpose a vision, may we do likewise.

Looking to Him,

Ron Mathre