Even though David was anointed to be king, he first served as a shepherd, his family, and at king Saul’s court. Before he was a hero, he first served. Maybe, this is the more heroic deed of his life?
It’s not just an ordinary story, this story. It’s probably one of the better known stories, or at least bits and pieces of it: David’s story. I am sure you know it. I am sure you know how he was a shepherd, how he was anointed by God to become king, and how he went on to become probably one of the greatest kings there ever was.
I’ve just come across that story again in my personal Scripture reading. I know it well, and yet every time it strikes me again. David was the least likely to be chosen. He was young, probably still a teenager, and he wasn’t even at the feast. His family only went to get him after Samuel specifically requested so (1 Samuel 16). Most of his time, he was out there, quietly looking after his sheep, fighting off wild animals without anyone seeing it.
When he was anointed, he didn’t immediately become king. He also didn’t become king within the next few weeks, or months even. No. He had to wait for years and years. He most likely went right back to tending his sheep after being anointed (and maybe feasting). And while his brothers were warriors and out there fighting battles, he was at home, not being the hero, again.
Do you see the pattern here? He was never seen as the hero. Instead, one of his brothers even accused him of wickedness when he went and visited them on the battle field, although he was just fulfilling his father’s wishes (1 Samuel 17:28). Right after that, he went and defeated Goliath. Right after that, he became the nations hero and was celebrated all over the country. Right after that, his brother was probably proud to be related to him.
I assume nothing I’m saying here is new to you. You have probably read this story in the chapters of 1 Samuel many times. And yet, today, when I am living my quiet life, not feeling like I am much of a hero, it speaks to me.
Why? Because I always want to be the hero. I always want to do things well, and change someone else’s life. When glorious life-changing moments happen, I want to be on the front line. I want to be used by God in that way.
I don’t know how David felt when he was anointed. I don’t know how he felt after that. But I know that he waited patiently until his time came. He tended his sheep, although he was anointed to tend to an entire nation. He became one of Saul’s armor-bearers – he served the king although he was the anointed king – and waited patiently. He brought food to his warrior brothers, although he was anointed to be the king of this army (1 Samuel 16-17). When he finally became the hero by defeating Goliath, he then was subject to Saul’s jealousy, anger, and persecution for several years. (1 Samuel 18 ff.)
Of course, David’s story will at some point turn around, and he will be a celebrated hero. However, I don’t think he would be that if it wasn’t for his faithful, servant heart. I don’t think God would have blessed him the way He did if he would not have waited so patiently. God had a purpose for David. It was for him to serve as a king. But before that, it was for him to serve in different capacities: as a shepherd, his family, at the king’s court. Although that seems less heroic, and definitely less defining in Israel’s history, I wonder whether actually, this might be the more heroic act of his life?
Maybe it isn’t more heroic. But I think the fact that David served in a way that’s not worth telling in history books, even though he knew he was anointed to be king, is just as heroic. And serving like that as anointed king takes as much humility as it takes courage to fight the wars he later fought. We are all created for a purpose, too. We are all anointed kings – because we are the King’s children. And as anointed kings, we are called to serve where He places us: and maybe it takes a lot of humility, maybe it takes a lot of courage, but certainly, it takes serving right where we are, even if our heroic deeds will never enter the history books.
