"I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite..."
This verse, referring to David's referral to Saul, brought up many thoughts and lessons to me as I read it. It's spoken just after David is called from the fields where he shepherded his flock, to be anointed with the oil from Samuel's horn, and declared the future king of God's people.
What exactly did David do to be brought to this great place of honor, recognition, and authority before men? Well of course the answer is: Nothing! He was just a young shepherd who humbly spent his time doing what his occupation deemed appropriate, that is, tending sheep. But as the word just previously stated in chapter 16, "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outwards appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart". Many men have great ambitions for themselves and disguise it as something else, claiming that these ambitions are really intended for the kingdom of God. To these men (myself all too often being found among them) I ask this: Would it suit you to live in a field tending a bunch of stinky sheep if God so called you? Really think about that question. Do you seek His glory and His will only? Being content in the Lord's will is a key element in going and doing what He has for us. If we are truly submitted to Him, then we shall see His hand working all things for us, and we need not worry about our own ambitions. If we're going through what the world calls the hum-drum, regular old, uneventful everyday life, yet fully seeking the Lord in complete contentment, just look at the great things He could be teaching us and growing us in!
All of the events that David had so far experienced in his life were completely out of his control, yet God knew what he was doing. He was preparing David in a way that if many today would have experienced they would have assumed God wasn't involved in their life whatsoever. Today He is doing the same thing with us, and we only have to be content in seeking and worshiping Him and trusting that He will do the rest.
