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TITLE: David
By Graeme Fox
08/23/09
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David
In the writings of the Old Testament, there is no other life quite like that of David. He went from a humble shepherd to court musician then to giant killer.

A public hero to the sworn enemy of a jealous power crazed king. A fugitive living in caves to the most famous and successful king in Jewish history yet a king who committed the most dreadful of sins for the lust of another man’s wife.

David’s life has much to teach us. He trusted God in danger, adversity, rejection and disappointment. He relied on the Father’s provision, help and deliverance when all around him was failure, despair and hopelessness. He did not try to justify himself or blame others but returned to God in humble repentance when he sinned.

David’s parentage and family was undoubtedly God fearing people. His great grandmother was a righteous Moabitess named Ruth, whose love and devotion to her Mother-in-law earned her a place in God’s word.

Although the Bible does not give a great deal of information about David’s father Jessie, we can assume that the young David was trained in the ways of God. He acknowledges that it was by God’s hand that he prevailed over the lion and the bear.

(1 Samuel 17 v 37)
The Anointing of the Shepherd.

The first mention of the young David is found in 1Samuel 16 v 11.

And Samuel said to Jesse “Are these all the children?” And he said “There remains yet the youngest and behold he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse “Send and bring him for we will not sit down until he comes here”

This was Jesse’s description of his son. He had not even bothered to present him to the prophet. Those around us sometimes paint pictures of us which we take on board and believe e.g. the boss at work, parents, spouses and people at church. These people may not really intend to hurt us or put us down but, nevertheless, the results are the same.

Nothing, however, seemed to phase the young David. What was his secret?
While pondering this, the Holy Spirit led me to read 1Samuel 16 vs. 17 & 18 where Saul called for a musician to soothe the effects of the evil that was oppressing him. David was recommended to Saul as follows

“Behold I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skilful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.”

The Holy Spirit reminded me that He doesn’t judge a book by its cover. It is not what man sees that is important but rather what God knows about us.


Gideon was hiding in the wine press beating out wheat so the Midiianites would not see him, yet the Lord called him a valiant warrior. Moses was a failed statesman hiding in the desert but God saw and knew his real potential. The servant who recommended David to Saul was doing exactly what Jesus does for us to the Father. He tells the Father who we are in Him.

That was David’s secret. He knew what God thought of Him, and like many other great men in the Bible, who were considered to be failures by mans standards, and even in their own eyes, were successful because they kept their eyes firmly fixed on the Lord and listened to what He said about them.

1 Samuel 16 Vs 12

So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance and the Lord said “Arise, anoint him for this is he”.

I wonder how David felt. Out minding the sheep while the famous and respected man of God was in the home with his Dad and brothers. If it was you or me, we, I am sure, would be thinking “What about me, why wasn’t I invited?” Somehow I don’t think of David thinking like that but maybe he did.


Jesus said (recorded in Luke 14 vs. 10 & 11) to sit in the lowest places so that when God calls you up and gives you a place of honor that place will be recognized and accepted by those around you. David, more likely, understood this and was prepared to act and do whatever it was that his God had designed for him to do at that moment. But, I am sure, that he was very happy when he was called in.


Was he honored? You bet he was. 1 Samuel 16 vs. 13 continues

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.

He was anointed by this great man of God as king and in front of his brothers who thought of him as a snotty nosed brat of a kid brother.

According to them, his place was with the sheep. But there is no way that they could deny the anointing. It was a plain fact that David was chosen over them.

I wonder what would have happened if David did the normal human thing and rushed off to Saul and said “God said you’re out and I’m in now so get off my throne”.

If God’s spirit had not fallen mightily upon him then he probably would have but he went back to his sheep assured that what God had ordained God would bring about. David had learned patience and knew he could trust in his Almighty God.

More of David’s life next post
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