Warriors Arise: June 10, 2022
1 Samuel 16:13-19 (NKJV) 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. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”
17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
What happened after David was anointed king and before King Saul sent for him to come and minister to him with song? In verse 18, do you think the servant knew David had been anointed to be the next king?
How did this servant even know David played skillfully?
How did he know David was a mighty man of valor?
How did he know David was a man of war?
How did he know David was prudent in speech?
How did he know David was a handsome person?
How did he know the Lord was with David?
It is such a different description of David than what is described when he stands before Samuel. Verse 12, So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. Why would the servant have said all those things of David? My impression of the way kings operated is that you would not exaggerate the truth or lie to them. It could cost you your life. So, what would compel this servant to speak so highly and readily of David?
It reminds me of a movie called The Legend of Bagger Vance. In the movie a young boy probably no more than 12 speaks up at a town meeting. The entire town is trying to find someone among them who can play in a golf tournament and compete at the level of Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. They do not have anyone. The council might reject the golf tournament if they do not have a player of their own who can match the professionals. Earlier, the young boy had seen a young man return to town and quietly go on his way. This young man had been the rising star of the South before leaving for the war. But the war had changed him and he had wandered for years before returning home. In the midst of the council meeting the boy shouts out, "What about Captain Juna?" He proceeds to give all his qualifications from the stories he had heard his father and all the people of town talk about. The council throws the idea around and then send the boy to go find Captain Juna.
What is it that this servant has heard of David that compelled him to give such a raving review? Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”
Has it been a few years since David was anointed and when things have gotten so far out of hand they were desperate to find someone quickly. We know King Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spears. I wonder if he had tried to pin anyone else?
There must have been something the servant knew. There must have been stories he heard of David. By the time the stories got to him they might have been exaggerated. What would he have heard of David that caused him to recommend they get him?
Did you know there would be several flocks of sheep brought into the fold, the stone wall circle at night? This place would be out in the middle of nowhere as shepherds were taking sheep from one green pasture to another. They didn't generally bring the sheep back home every night. That would be too far for sheep to walk. So, they would build these rock fences for the sheep to sleep in. The shepherd would then sleep in the doorway. If anything tried to get into the place of safety the shepherd would be in position to get rid of the prowler. Many times shepherds from different families gathered at these overnight rock wall structures and like anyone else they would have stories of their day to tell. They wouldn't have talked to anyone all day so they would be ready for stories when they got together.
What stories could have been told at these night rock walls that could have caused the servant to think so highly of David?
1 Samual 16:18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”
The next part of recorded history is the Israel army facing the Philistine army. After a time Jesse sent David with provision for his brothers who were sent to war. No one will face Goliath, the Philistine warrior who mocked God's army and the Living God. David wants to fight Goliath. King Saul does not think David can do this but if is bent on doing this he should at least wear his armor and take his sword. But it was too big for David. He couldn't fight Goliath like that. He had to fight Goliath the same way he fought and killed the lion and the bear. I am thinking the servant knew of David killing the lion and the bear. I do not think the servant had ever seen David, but he had heard the stories of Jesse's son; David who killed a lion and a bear. David is known as ruddy and a youth to Samuel, but this servant describes him as a man of valor and a man of war. What happened from the time David was anointed to be the next king and he is called upon to minister with his harp to King Saul?
When we are waiting for the fulfillment of the prophecy there are times we are to return to what we were doing. We are to be faithful to do our job well, even better than we did before. Because of the prophecy, we take a stand against the prowler who tries to steal from us. David could no longer be a boy. He knew the call on his life and he must develop skills of leadership and courage. David had to embrace responsibility. He had to live now what would be expected of him in the future. He had to care for and protect what he was under his charge. He had to live now from his future self.
Father, I ask for You to come and minister to my heart. I pray You would remind me what has been prophecies over me. I pray I would not shrink back. I pray I would step forward and embrace what You have said You want me to become. I pray I would ready myself. I pray I would embrace responsibility, courage and the leadership required to fulfill what You have called me to do. I pray I would seize correct opportunities to develop courage and leadership. I pray my heart would grow stronger and my passion to develop what is necessary for what You have called me to do. I desire to live now from my future self, so I will be ready to step into that leadership role when my future arrives in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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