DAVID THE SHEPHERD BOY WHO BECAME KING ( I )
(INSIGHTS FROM THE LIFE OF A WINNER)
Bible reading:
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22)
David the winner.
David was a winner. He kept all that God entrusted him with. Take great care of all that God gives you. Don’t lose God’s blessings. We are stewards of his riches. If you constantly lose what God gives you, he won’t be able to entrust you with greater responsibilities. If you want to see an increase in every domain of your life, if you want to experience growth in every sphere, then watch carefully over all that he gives you. God’s blessings are precious. Don’t take them lightly.
- A Good Shepherd.
It was not easy to rob David of what was entrusted to him. He was a shepherd and when he was keeping his father’s sheep, neither the lion nor the bear could take even one of his sheep. Listen to his own words to King Saul: “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it………….the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this philistine.”
(1 Samuel 17:34-35&37)
Incredible isn’t it? A teenager running fearlessly after a lion! A young boy fighting with a bear! That episode of his life reveals his strong character. What is more astounding is that David was determined to get back his sheep when a lion or a bear carried one of them. He wouldn’t let go. He did not hesitate if the animal turned on him, to seize it by the hair and struck it until the lion or the bear was killed. Winners never quit and quitters never win. David was a winner. That’s why God could entrust him with the kingdom of Israel.
- A brave man.
David’s boldness is amazing. He had a character and his bravery was apparent in all that he said. The way he talked to the men of Israel (1 Samuel 17:26), to the king Saul (1 Samuel 14:34-37) and to Goliath himself (1 Samuel 17:45-47) showed that he was fearless and didn’t have the shadow of a doubt concerning his victory over Goliath. As soon as the philistine began to move, David ran against him to meet and defeat him
(1Samuel 17:48-49) How could a young boy like David be so bold? He didn’t fear anybody or anything. What was his secret? It was his strong faith and his total commitment to God. Real faith in God’s words will make you bold in all circumstances. Real faith knows no fear. God could entrust him with anything because he knew that David would keep whatever is entrusted to him. David was not a loser.
- David and the kingdom of Israel.
King Saul was exactly the opposite of what David was. Saul lost the kingdom, but David remained king of Israel all his life. Keep all that God entrust you with and he will keep on adding other blessings. If you keep losing what he gives you, it will be impossible for you to experience growth. Listen to Jesus words: “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” (Luke 8:18)
Listen to what the word of God said about David: The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: “one of your own descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” (Psalm 132:11-12)
The Lord Jesus was called “son of David.” He was a descendant of David. See to what extent God blessed David. Concerning Saul it is written:
“You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you, if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure, the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14)
I firmly believe that God wants to lift you up too and make you reach a new dimension in your spiritual life. You’ll have to be very careful about what you do with God’s blessings. Remember if you are faithful in little things he will entrust you with greater responsibilities. Don’t lose God’s blessings. Be a winner.