And here’s how they do it. They acknowledge they are physically part and parcel of the same blood line; that, like David, they too are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They’ve laid down their arms. They say “we are thy bone and they flesh,” meaning, in essence, “we’re ready to give our lives in service and obedience to you.” Then they also acknowledge his ability to lead God’s people. Verse two. (2) “Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel:…”
Isn’t this interesting? They had seen, even in the days of Saul and his rejection of David, that this was a man who was able to handle the leadership of a nation.
Think about this. What they knew of David was that he’d slain Goliath thirteen years earlier. What they knew was that Saul despised him. What they knew was that this David was marked for death by the king. Yet, it had become obvious to them that David could handle the leadership of a great nation. David, in the face of trial and trouble, did what was needed – he leaned on the invisible arm of the LORD. He did what was right – he had remained faithful in the face of a lot of unfaithful people.
And, when you are traveling through the days of trial and trouble, please don’t waste those days. They’re your training ground for greater service for the LORD. And, by the way, they are also your training ground for Heaven (Some day we’ll talk about that).
I’m sure David was tempted to run from the LORD while he ran from Saul. Yet, those thirteen years were being watched over both by the LORD as well as those in Saul’s army. Like those who watched David, others see your struggles and both your successes and your failures. So, don’t despair. Don’t give up when it seems all is lost. There is a day of victory coming and a day of greater service for the LORD. And you, like David, can go through thirteen years of trouble and grief. And do so with God’s blessing upon your life.
The third word they bring to King David is this – verse two again. (2) “… and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.” The key term I want you to take note of here is the term “feed.” It’s a great Hebrew word. It’s the word used throughout the entire Bible. It’s “shepherd.” And it’s a verb. “To feed” is “to shepherd.” It’s the exact same word that is used of David when he literally “fed” his father’s sheep on the hillsides of Judea.
Look with me at I Samuel 16:11 and the day when Samuel comes to anoint David as Israel’s next king. I Samuel 16:11 “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.” And what was his main responsibility? I Samuel 17:15. (17:15) “But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.”
Later, David takes food supplies to his brothers on the frontline of the Battle with the Philistines. And his brothers mock him for what? For tending a few sheep. Later that same day, David sees Goliath in action. And he, the lowly shepherd boy who “fed” the sheep, offers to go up against this giant. Here’s what he says to King Saul. (17:34) “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: (35) And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (36) Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”
And you all know what happens when this lowly shepherd boy goes out against Goliath, right? Isn’t this interesting? God takes the shepherd boy out into unfamiliar surroundings so that he can use him to defeat Israel’s largest enemy. But you see David never ceased being a shepherd. He learned how to walk with God while he led quote “those few sheep” from pasture to pasture and still water to still water.
Isn’t this interesting? They had seen, even in the days of Saul and his rejection of David, that this was a man who was able to handle the leadership of a nation.
Think about this. What they knew of David was that he’d slain Goliath thirteen years earlier. What they knew was that Saul despised him. What they knew was that this David was marked for death by the king. Yet, it had become obvious to them that David could handle the leadership of a great nation. David, in the face of trial and trouble, did what was needed – he leaned on the invisible arm of the LORD. He did what was right – he had remained faithful in the face of a lot of unfaithful people.
And, when you are traveling through the days of trial and trouble, please don’t waste those days. They’re your training ground for greater service for the LORD. And, by the way, they are also your training ground for Heaven (Some day we’ll talk about that).
I’m sure David was tempted to run from the LORD while he ran from Saul. Yet, those thirteen years were being watched over both by the LORD as well as those in Saul’s army. Like those who watched David, others see your struggles and both your successes and your failures. So, don’t despair. Don’t give up when it seems all is lost. There is a day of victory coming and a day of greater service for the LORD. And you, like David, can go through thirteen years of trouble and grief. And do so with God’s blessing upon your life.
The third word they bring to King David is this – verse two again. (2) “… and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.” The key term I want you to take note of here is the term “feed.” It’s a great Hebrew word. It’s the word used throughout the entire Bible. It’s “shepherd.” And it’s a verb. “To feed” is “to shepherd.” It’s the exact same word that is used of David when he literally “fed” his father’s sheep on the hillsides of Judea.
Look with me at I Samuel 16:11 and the day when Samuel comes to anoint David as Israel’s next king. I Samuel 16:11 “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.” And what was his main responsibility? I Samuel 17:15. (17:15) “But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.”
Later, David takes food supplies to his brothers on the frontline of the Battle with the Philistines. And his brothers mock him for what? For tending a few sheep. Later that same day, David sees Goliath in action. And he, the lowly shepherd boy who “fed” the sheep, offers to go up against this giant. Here’s what he says to King Saul. (17:34) “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: (35) And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (36) Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”
And you all know what happens when this lowly shepherd boy goes out against Goliath, right? Isn’t this interesting? God takes the shepherd boy out into unfamiliar surroundings so that he can use him to defeat Israel’s largest enemy. But you see David never ceased being a shepherd. He learned how to walk with God while he led quote “those few sheep” from pasture to pasture and still water to still water.
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