In 1 Samuel 16, we find the story of the prophet Samuel annointing David to be the next king of the nation of Israel. The Lord told Samuel in verse 1, “I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons”
When Samuel arrived, Jessee had his seven oldest sons all brought before Samuel, but the Lord told him that none of these were the one. So, Samuel asked if Jessee didn’t have another son? And that’s when he was told about David, who was the youngest son and was out taking care of the sheep. So, Samuel told them to go get David and bring him into the house. And when David was brought before him, the Bible says in verse 12, “…And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
After David was annointed to become the next king of Israel, Saul was still king at the time, and it would be a long while before David actually became king after Saul’s death. So, in the coming chapters of the book, we find that David is still keeping the sheep when he goes to fight and kill Goliath.
Now, wait – I thought David was annointed to be the next king? Why is he still keeping the sheep? A future KING out keeping sheep??? Certainly that is beneath him now? No. David had such a close relationship with God that he knew God would make him king when it was God’s perfect time to do so. But for now, it was still David’s job to keep sheep, and that’s what he did.
Twice in 1 Samuel, we read how David had a chance to kill Saul and become king, but he didn’t do it. Once David’s friends saw an opportunity and told David, “this is your chance to kill Saul and become king!!” But David replied in 1 Samuel 24:6, “So he said to his men, ‘Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’S anointed.'” Yes, it was in God’s plan for David to one day become king, but for NOW…Saul was still king and David knew better than to try to force things to happen his way. Even though Saul had tried himself to kill David on many occasions, David trusted in God’s perfect will and timing.
Eventually, David did become king. But, it happened when God wanted it to happen. Immediately upon being annointed as the next king, many people would have started demanding that people treat them as king, but David went back to taking care of the sheep. He knew that sometime in the future, when it was God’s plan, he would become king – but for now, his job was to watch his father’s sheep. And the Bible says in Acts 13:22, “he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”
We too often try to force things to happen in our lives rather than wait for God’s perfect will and timing. We get all worried about why we haven’t found a better job yet. Well – are we doing our best at the job we DO have? That’s where God has us today! We get all anxious about that relationship we’re waiting to happen. How are we doing with the relationships we DO have today? Are we being a testimony for God before the people we DO know? We get all concerned about not having enough money tomorrow to meet and care for our needs. How are we doing with the money God has given us TODAY? Are we being good and faithful stewards with what God HAS blessed us with?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” It’s NOT our job to worry about tomorrow. Yes, we can make plans and prepare ourselves for what God might want us to do, but even then we need to realize that God’s plans aren’t always our plans, and we need to be willing to do WHATEVER HE WANTS for us.
In Isaiah 40:28-31 we read, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
The EVERLASTING GOD…The CREATOR is in COMPLETE control. He knows EXACTLY what He is doing. Our job is to do TODAY what God has given us to do and DO OUR BEST at it. God may have great plans for us tomorrow, but if today he has us taking care of sheep – we should be the BEST shepherd to those sheep we can possibly be and wait for GOD to open the door to tomorrow.
Wherever we find ourselves TODAY, be a Witness and a Testimony before others of how AWESOME and AMAZING God is. Many times, God waits for us to be faithful and obedient to Him where we find ourselves NOW, before He opens the doors for something better. How can we expect God to bless us with greater things when we’re not even obeying Him in the stuff He’s given us today? God has a plan for our lives, and where we are today is PART of that plan, so be faithful to Him TODAY!!
Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)