Humble Appointment

1 Samuel 16:12-17

Here’s our first good look at David. He walks into the house, still smelling 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 to 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 he do? Well, I’m happy to report, he did not go down to the nearest department store and try on crowns. He didn’t order a new set of business cards, telling the printer, “Change it from shepherd to king-elect.” Didn’t have a badge saying, “I’m the new man.” Didn’t shine up a chariot and race through the streets of Bethlehem, yelling, “I’m God’s choice . . . you’re looking at Saul’s replacement!”

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 the 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 with 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 out the lights, he was humbly back with his sheep. People had to actually pull him from the sheep to get him to do anything that was related to the limelight. 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.

Taken from Great Days with the Great Lives by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com

Posted in Bible Characters and tagged .

Accuracy, clarity, and practicality all describe the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. Chuck is the chairman of the board at Insight for Living and the chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary. Chuck also serves as the senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, where he is able to do what he loves most—teach the Bible to willing hearts. His focus on practical Bible application has been heard on the Insight for Living radio broadcast since 1979.

ఖచ్చితత్వం, స్పష్టత మరియు ఆచరణాత్మకత అన్నీ చార్లెస్ ఆర్. స్విన్డాల్ యొక్క బైబిల్-బోధనా పరిచర్యను వివరిస్తాయి. చక్ ఇన్సైట్ ఫర్ లివింగ్ కు బోర్డు ఛైర్మన్ మరియు డల్లాస్ థియోలాజికల్ సెమినరీకి ఛాన్సలర్. చక్ టెక్సాస్‌లోని ఫ్రిస్కోలోని స్టోన్‌బ్రయర్ కమ్యూనిటీ చర్చ్ యొక్క సీనియర్ పాస్టర్‌గా కూడా పనిచేస్తున్నారు, అక్కడ ఆయన చాలా ఇష్టపడేదాన్ని చేయగలుగుతున్నాడు-ఇష్టపడే హృదయాలకు బైబిల్ నేర్పిస్తున్నారు. ఆచరణాత్మక బైబిల్ అనువర్తనంపై ఆయన దృష్టి 1979 నుండి ఇన్సైట్ ఫర్ లివింగ్ రేడియో ప్రసారంలో వినబడుచున్నది.