From Great Days with the Great Lives, by Chuck Swindoll, Pg. 109
Read I Samuel 16:12-17
Here’s our first good look at David. He walks into the house, still smelling like like sheep, and all of a sudden an old man hobbles over and pours oil on his head . It drips down his hair and drops on his neck. Josephus, the historian, writes, “Samuel the aged whispered in his ear the meaning of the symbol, “You will be the next king.”
What did David do? What do you do in a situation like that? I mean, it doesn’t come along every other day. God’s ways are so marvelous, aren’t they? At the most surprising moment, the most magnificent things happen. “You’re going to be the next king.” What did David do? Well, I’m happy to report, he did not go down to the nearest department store and try on new crowns. Neither did he order a new set of business cards, telling the printer, “Change it from shepherd to king-elect.” Or have a badge or a vest saying, “I’m the new man.” Or shine up a chariot and race through the streets of Jerusalem, yelling, “I’m God’s choice … you’re looking at Saul’s replacement.”
So, what did he do?
It made no difference that Samuel had anointed him with oil. He didn’t bronze that horn and hang it up in his tent. He didn’t expect special treatment from others. No, he simply went back to his sheep. And when the king said, “Come on over here and play music for me,” David went over and played a little. And when he got through, he thought, “Hey, I gotta get back to my sheep; that’s my job.
David was sensitive enough to hear the whisper of God’s voice, “You will be the next king.” But as soon as the big moment was over and they turned off the lights, he was humbly back with his sheep. People actually had to pull him from the sheep to get him to do anything that was elated to the limelight.
BOTTOM LINE: In fact, I think that’s one of the reasons he was a man after God’s heart. He was always approachable, always believable, always authentic … and always faithful in the little things.
NEXT UP: I left my power cord in DC over the weekend, so I’m finished blogging until next week, or longer perhaps. God bless…