Editor’s note: Have you been watching the new series “House of David”? It’s a fascinating historical drama about the life of David. Check it out! Do you want to know more about the man who is called “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14)? Charles Swindoll’s latest book Man of Valor, Man of Grace is a deeper look at the successes and failures of King David. Enjoy this excerpt.
*
God never changes. But people certainly do. We change where we live, we change friends, we change jobs. Our interests change, our health changes. Things change at home too: Children are born, children leave home, loved ones are lost.
And how about the challenges and hardships and struggles we face? Just think of the totally unexpected difficulties you’ve had to face in the past five years. Aren’t you glad God didn’t tell you about all those things five years ago? Just think of all the stuff you didn’t worry about back then because you never saw it coming!
When was the last time you thanked the Lord for not showing you the future? I’m convinced that one of the best things God does for us is to keep us from knowing what will happen beyond today.
We sort of ricochet from moment to moment, trying to put our whole life together. But we lack the time and wisdom to figure it all out. So we have to take life one day at a time. That’s the way our unchanging God dispenses life to us — daily — because He knows (as you and I don’t) what will work together for lasting good in our lives, day by day.
God is good not to show us tomorrow. And the same was true in ancient times, while His Word was being lived out and recorded.
How gracious of God to give David one day at a time. Many people probably suppose that David, after he killed the giant, took the throne within a matter of days, and became Israel’s youngest king. But it doesn’t happen that way. As a matter of fact, the aftermath of this giant-killing leads David into one of the deepest, longest, and darkest valleys of his entire life. This young man who has proven himself faithful among the sheep and on the battlefield goes from the highest pinnacle of popularity to the lowest depression of despair. God is good not to tell David all that’s coming his way.
God’s hand is on David. Ultimately, the Lord will use him as the greatest king in Israel’s history. But in order to do that, He has to break him, hone him, sharpen him. He has to crush him. David is about to enter the crucible of pain. Thankfully, he has no idea beforehand how excruciating the pain will be.
Submission to Saul — And Abundant Success
Against Goliath, David has just accomplished an incredible thing, a stunningly remarkable achievement. A young man not yet twenty years old — who’s never worn a soldier’s uniform, never suited up with armor to carry a sword onto the battlefield — has killed a giant over nine feet tall with a single throw of his sling.
As a result, David gains instant popularity. He becomes a national hero, an overnight celebrity. People begin to sing his praises. Very few people could take all that in stride — but David does. He knows how to live with success without being tarnished. It’s a rare person who can do that, especially if he’s young and has never been in the public spotlight. David was that rare person.
Meanwhile, Saul makes good on his promise to enrich the man who killed Goliath. David becomes a permanent part of the king’s court and is also given high rank in the army. After that win over Goliath (and Israel’s subsequent rout of the Philistines), King Saul isn’t going to let this guy go back to herding sheep.
And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house... And David went into battle wherever Saul sent him, and always achieved success. — 1 Samuel 18:2, 5 NASB
Here’s the champion of champions, the giant slayer, and he obediently goes wherever Saul sends him. He’s in loyal submission to his king. As a king in the making (without Saul realizing it), David serves as a sort of incognito intern. And the result? He prospers.
Repeatedly in 1 Samuel 18 we’re made aware of David’s success:
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. — 1 Samuel 18:5
In everything he [David] did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. — 1 Samuel 18:14
David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known. — 1 Samuel 18:30
- David simply does what God leads him to do. He submits to authority, and God lifts him high above his peers, in great esteem among the people of Israel.
David has never served in the army, let alone been in any official role of leadership. But now he commands troops, and he leads so well that even the king’s servants are impressed. Despite his youth and inexperience, David knows how to conduct himself with everyone.
If there’s a single statement that best describes David at this time in his life, it’s a phrase we see twice in this chapter:
The Lord was with him. — 1 Samuel 18:12, 14 NASB
Interestingly, the Hebrew word translated in this chapter as “prospered” or “success” and “successful” is based on the verb sakal, which has to do with being wise. This word “suggests a process of reasoning through complex situations to a practical conclusion, enabling one to act wisely.”1 In Proverbs 10:19 and 21:11, sakal is linked to holding one’s tongue as well as paying attention to the wise in order to gain wisdom and knowledge. That’s the kind of man David is: He guards his lips and keeps a teachable spirit.
No matter how fast our promotion, or how highly we’re praised, we’re never to lose our teachability. We never reach a level where we’re above criticism, or no longer in need of others’ input. And frankly, there are times when our best lessons can be learned from our enemies.
1. Lawrence O. Richards, entry for “Understand/Understanding” in Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible Words (Zondervan, 1985, 1991), 604.
Excerpted with permission from Man of Valor, Man of Grace by Charles R. Swindoll, copyright Charles R. Swindoll.
* * *
Your Turn
Thank God today for not giving you more information than you need. We’re not meant to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). The not knowing is a gift! Let’s thank the Lord that no matter what, He is with us! ~ Devotionals Daily