Remember Ruth and Boaz in Bethlehem who united through a series of God's divine appointments? Remember their son, Obed who we learn grows up and has a son, Jesse? Well, God is stilling working His bigger plan across generations at this point in our reading. Jesse grows up and has a son named David.
We meet David today. He is the youngest of eight sons. He's a shepherd, and those who know him would never dream that David would become one of the greatest men in the Old Testament. But, we know, that's often how God works, through the most unlikely and the least.
So, God chooses David to be King of Israel. God fills him with His Holy Spirit; and once that happens, King David plays a huge role in God's story as He works out all the love-filled details...step by step.
David is King and only a few people know it.
David ends up working for Saul, first playing the lyre and then serving as one of Saul's armor-bearers. It's no coincidence that these two paths are crossing. We know God is up to something big.
And then we realize, the least likely to become King is also the least likely to beat Goliath, the Philistine giant and champion. But, that's God's plan exactly.
8 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
I love the story of David and Goliath. Every time I read it, something new stands out to me.
David's story with Goliath reminds me that the SMALL things we do for God are just as powerful and purposeful as the BIG things we do for God as we try to live out His best for our lives.
And so, David, the new King of Israel, finds himself going back and forth between shepherding sheep and serving Saul. Notice, he's not even on the front lines of the battle with the Philistines in the beginning of the story.
Lots of time just happens to go by as God sets David up for success. The same is true for us. We have to wait and trust God to do what He needs to do when He needs to do it.
God prepares us for what is ahead. He connects us with the right people and resources. He gets our heart in shape for His purposes.
David knows the GIANTS in our lives and the details that define them are no match for God.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied...
47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
There are little steps and giant leaps we are all called to take for God, both of which place us in His mighty and graceful hands.
In Christ, we can be sure that the best things in life are worth the wait.
A prayer for today-
Dear God,
Thank You for the new life I have in Christ. Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit and Your purpose.
Help me to serve You in all things, little and big. I know that it's by Your hand and Your grace that I am able to succeed.
Be with me, Lord, and work out the details, like You did for David, as I face this call in my life that is on my heart today______________________________.
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,
Amen
Blessings,
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