David: The Price of Greatness III
4. The Wait
On his journey to being the greatest king Israel ever had, David had to embrace “the wait”.
What is “the wait”?
This is the period that exists between the promise of the vision and the fulfillment of the vision.
It is estimated that David was a teenager when Samuel anointed him. He became king of Judah at the age of 30 (2 Samuel 5:4) and had to wait another seven years before becoming king of Israel. Meaning, David waited for approximately 20 years before the vision of his life was fulfilled.
Yet, it was in this wait that God prepared him for the 40 years he would reign as a king (2 Samuel 5:4-5). And it is because of this time of preparation that we are still talking about him today. How was David prepared?
a) Service
‘With God, the way up is down’. I read this statement in my BSF International notes, and it rings true in David’s life. After Samuel anointed him, David entered the palace, not as a king, but as a servant.
David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour- bearers.
1 Samuel 16:21
Even after defeating Goliath, David returned to his position as Saul’s servant.
Why was this an important part of his preparation?
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:11-12
Your Turn
Do you embrace humility?
Do you allow God to exalt you in His time, or are you trying to exalt yourself?
b) Refinement of Skills
David was used to solo success. He killed the lion and the bear with his own hands. He killed Goliath with a stone and sling. By himself, he was a great warrior.
But, he was called to be a king. This automatically meant that he would have to learn how to successfully lead the army of Israel. He could no longer operate as a “lone ranger”.
So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.
1 Samuel 18:13
His leadership skills needed to be refined. It was one thing leading a few sheep, and a whole different game leading an army.
His leadership training would be taken further during his time in exile.
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered round him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
1 Samuel 22:2
These men tested David’s leadership. At one point, they threatened to kill him.
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 30:6
Yet in spite of the many challenges he faced as their leader, it is said of these distressed men:
These are the names of David’s mighty men[…]
2 Samuel 23:8
It is with these might men that David would successfully fight in Israel’s army, until they rested from their enemies (2 Samuel 7:1).
David recognized the training he received, by singing:
Praise be to the Lord my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
Psalm 144:1
Your Turn:
Do you have a teachable spirit?
Before you can be a leader in anything, you first have to be a student.
Like David, you will be tested in the areas you already think you know. You will be tested in what you know. And you will be stretched. But without this training, you will not last in the position God has for you.
c) God Dependent
From the get go, David depended on God. He was fully aware that his success was due to God’s presence in his life.
In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
1 Samuel 18:14
David did not take this presence for granted. He consistently sought God before making any move.
Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant.
And the LORD said, “He will.”
Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”
And the LORD said, “They will.”
So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
1 Samuel 23:11-13
This is but one of many instances that captures David actively engaging God on the direction he should take. Through these deliberate interractions of seeking God, David developed trust. God proved Himself faithful to David and David knew he could rely on Him. And because of this, David trusted God’s timing.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14
And because he lived this truth, David waited for the LORD to crown him. After Saul’s death, David did not announce himself as king. He did not conspire his way to the throne. He watched as Saul’s son Ish- Bosheth became king. And he waited for his time. And in God’s time, by God’s own doing, Israel came to David and made him their king.
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall become their ruler.’ “
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Your Turn:
Israel came to David, not the other way around. Why? Because he trusted in and waited on God’s time.
Do you promote yourself or does God promote you?
We shall conclude ‘David: The Price of Greatness’ next week. In the meantime, meditate on the below mirror:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:8-9