Between great and menial things.

But David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 17:15 ESV

In 1 Samuel 16, we are introduced to David, the next king whom God chooses to replace Saul. The minute David gets anointed, something happens to Saul. The Spirit of the Lord departs from him and an evil spirit began to torment him.

He is advised to find someone who could play the harp for him until the evil spirit left. They found David, one of the young men answered, “ Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” Therefore Saul sent a messenger to Jesse and said, Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And David came to Saul and entered his service. (18-19, 21)

It is important to note that this is the second time that David is called out from tending sheep to do great things. The first time was when he is anointed to be king. There is something to learn from this. We can fret about missing our opportunities. We can worry about networking. But, there is something about a man or woman who will wait on God. God will have people promoting them in their absence. When we are in God’s schedule and perfect timing nothing will pass us. People will pass over all the people promoting themselves to get to us.

David wasn’t concerned about the next thing. He was busy with what was in front of him and he did it well.

Even though David had joined King Saul’s service, he didn’t neglect his duty of taking his father’s sheep. With a busy schedule, he made sure he made time to go do the small insignificant things. We would imagine David would be going around telling people how he is going to be the next king. #anointed #nextkingofIsrael #crowned #thenextbigthing taking selfies to make sure everyone is posted.

But we are told…he went back and forth from Saul to his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

How we do small things is how we’ll do great things.

Most people don’t know that God doesn’t choose us in the great things. He chooses us in the menial insignificant things. He sees our attitudes. He sees how we behave when no one is watching. He sees our hearts and He knows what He can and cannot trust us with.

How we clean toilets tells God how we will CEO a company. How we serve in menial things, tells God how we’ll lead in great places. How we do the not so glorious things tells God how will do what is esteemed and popular. How we worship when no one is looking tells God how will worship when he puts us on a platform and in front of crowds.

Some of us are asking God for stuff we are not even half ready for. We want them for all the wrong reasons. And God in His wisdom will keep saying no until we get ready.

Being in the palace didn’t get in David’s head. He didn’t change his lifestyle. In fact, David seems to go lower the more God exalts him. This is the secret to walking with God. When He exalts us we go lower. When He promotes us, we go lower still.

A few things to learn from David:

God will find us in hidden places. David could have thought, in the back of nowhere, how would opportunities find him? How was anyone going to know he could lead? But David didn’t need anyone to know he only needed to be faithful with what was in front of him and God would promote him. The hidden places served as preparation places for God. God could mold him without human interference. David didn’t become a king in Saul’s palace; he became a king when tending sheep. The menial things became what God used to train him for the great things.

For the audience of one. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 David seemed to have this one down. Whatever he did, he did it unto the Lord. It didn’t matter if it was big or small, it didn’t matter if people saw it or not, he knew God did. But funny thing is, people noticed too.

Humility goes before promotion. David didn’t think he was something. In fact, he doesn’t seem to think about himself much. He thinks God is a big deal and that keeps him humble. When we stay humble, God won’t have to find opportunities to humble us. Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and he will exalt you[ He will lift you up, he will give you purpose]. James 4:10 It’s easy to fool people into thinking we are humble, but we can’t fool God. its easy for people to think we are prideful but be truly humble before God.

Complaining will block our promotion. Do everything without murmuring or questioning God[ the providence of God]. Philippians 2:14 If we don’t train ourselves to not complain about small insignificant things, we will complain and dishonor God even in great things. We can be tempted to think our attitudes will change when things get better. If God changes our circumstances, we will act better. But often, our circumstances change when our attitudes change. Promotion is not a cure for all our bad habits. Promotion will expose our faults in a greater measure. God knows this and uses the menial things to deal with the things that will destroy us in the great things.