The Earlier Experiences of David
It is so comforting to know that the LORD God chooses who He want for the task He chooses. Have you noticed many times in the Bible, and in life, the LORD chooses unlikely people to do His work. That is so everyone will know that the work being done is the work of the LORD not the work of man. You need to remember those who are rejected of men are often beloved of the LORD. 1 Samuel 18:1-30
We have covered that the nation of Israel as a whole had rejected the law of the LORD God and asked for a king to rule over them. Saul was their first king. Saul went against the LORD God and was sorry that He had made Saul king over Israel. (1 Samuel 15:35).
We saw that David was anointed by Samuel the prophet. David was actually anointed 3 times in his life. The first time we learned about that was done privately at Bethlehem as found in 1 Samuel 16:13 by Samuel. The second time David was anointed was done by the men of Judah found in 2 Samuel 2:4. We will learn more about this anointing later. The third time David was anointed was by the elders of the children of Israel found in 2 Samuel 5:3.
We know this little Shepard boy played the harp to calm king Saul in his days of distress when the Spirit of the LORD left him. We also know about David becoming a champion of the children of Israel when he fought a Philistine named Goliath of Gath and killed him. David saved many of the children of Israel in this heroic task.
It was after David slew Goliath that Saul had David live with him and move from his father’s house. Saul had a son, Jonathan. David and Jonathan were like brothers. They loved each other and they did everything together. Jonathan gave David his robe that identified him as the king’s son, his garments, even his sword and bow.
David did whatever Saul asked him to do and went wherever Saul told him to go. And David behaved wisely. Saul set David over the men of war. David set killed more Philistines than Saul did. This and the fact that both Israel and Judah loved David made Saul afraid of David.
Saul gave his daughter Michal to marry David so Michal would be a snare to David and give him in the hand of the Philistines. So David became the son in law to King Saul.
David was to kill a hundred Philistines for a dowry. King Saul had hopes that the Philistines would kill David; that did not happen. David killed the Philistines and Saul gave his daughter Michal for David to marry.
King Saul knew that the LORD was with David so he was more afraid of David; and Saul became the enemy to David. Saul spoke to his son Jonathan and to all his servants that they should kill David. Jonathan went to David and told him that Saul meant to kill him and told David to hide.
What Can This Story Teach You?
The LORD God used David to minister to King Saul. David was happy to be used by the LORD. David had been anointed king but the LORD had not made him king. King Saul had lost the Spirit of the LORD and was no longer king. Yet David was patient and content to wait for the time when the LORD God appointed him for his coronation.
We equally need to wait, be patient, and diligently learn what the LORD has in store for us. It is in the timing of the LORD when all things are accomplished. 1 Timothy 6:12 tells us; “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
It is so comforting to know that the LORD God chooses who He want for the task He chooses. Have you noticed many times in the Bible, and in life, the LORD chooses unlikely people to do His work. That is so everyone will know that the work being done is the work of the LORD not the work of man.
You may be intellectual and well thought of with your family and friends. You may be despised by others because of your faith in Jesus Christ. You need to remember those who are rejected of men are often beloved of the LORD. You need to remember those who are rejected of men are often beloved of the LORD.
The world of men rejected Jesus Christ why would you not be rejected of men also? Jesus said to His Father just before He was crucified: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:9-11
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Earlier Experiences of David:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1963,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “The Earlier Experiences of David:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1963,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Earlier Experiences of David:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1963 (accessed).
