Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 16:13, 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.
We are not told what David’s father’s reaction was to what took place here. We are also not told what his brothers’ reactions were either. We do not even get an indication of what David’s reaction was to Samuel anointing him. It may have been that only Samuel knew, and possibly David, once the Spirit came upon him. Nonetheless, what I would like us to focus on is the fact that what is taking place here did not just happen randomly. There was a process that took place that many of us do not consider when we read about King David’s life. There were events that were taking place in the world David lived in that he was clueless about (such as what was happening with King Saul). At the same time, there were things happening in David’s life that were preparing him for, and leading him to, this moment in time, and would take him to the time that he would publicly be presented as the king of Israel, God’s people. We previously discussed that David’s days in the fields, taking care of his family’s sheep, was the training ground God used to prepare David to be king. There are many of us today who have a desire to serve God, but along with serving God we want public notoriety. Sadly, what ends up happening is that we allow our desire for recognition to overshadow what is truly important…a genuine relationship with God. It is from our intimacy with God in private that God will use to bring us public recognition, if that is indeed what He desires and has planned for us. Matthew 6:1-4 tells us, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Jesus continued to say in verses 5-6, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” David’s intimacy with God grew in private, while he was out serving God by serving his family in the fields; even though he was apparently treated more like a servant than a son. Although it does not seem that his father Jesse was the source of his spiritual nurturing, we read in Psalms that it was likely David’s mother who was his spiritual nurturer. In Psalm 86:16 David wrote, “Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant.” In Psalm 116:16 he also wrote, “O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.” For those of us who have a great desire to be used by God, what are we doing now to allow God to prepare us for whatever His plan is for our life and service to Him? Do we take time to intentionally invest in those quiet times when we can read His Word and pray? Do we seek to be a blessing and give to others, even when no one else knows about it, or do we have to carry a giant billboard and sound trumpets every time we do something for someone? Do we feel the need to post it on Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else we make our announcement, so that people can tell us how good and spiritual we are? If so, I will remind us again that the pat on the back we receive is the only reward we will get (Matthew 6). God wants to use us, but He also wants to prepare us. Let us allow God to use the private moments with Him as preparation for future service to Him, should He tarry. Man’s accolades today will very easily turn to cries of persecution tomorrow. If you do not believe that, remember that the same people who cried, “Hosanna” were the same who later cried, “Crucify Him!” Let us seek to honor the LORD in our private lives and it will be evident publicly, in God’s time and God’s way.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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