“Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.””1 Samuel 16:11 ESV http://bible.com/59/1sa.16.11.esv
This chapter begins with God speaking to Samuel. God is urging Samuel to go and find the king that he had provided. He also warns Samuel of making conclusions solely on appearance. Samuel finds himself in Jesse’s house looking at some very “qualified” men, but none of which the Lord had called. He comes to he end of the line and asks “are all your sons here??” Jesse answers back “the youngest remains, but he is keeping the sheep.”
How wonderful it would be to have someone come to your door and say “thus saith he Lord, go and do this!!” Although, David certainly had many obstacles in front of him before he took the throne, he was called none the less. What strikes me the most about this passage is that David was not just waiting for his “calling” but he was keeping the sheep.
So many times in my life I take for granted the tasks that the Lord has placed in front of me while wondering…
“What has God called me to be? A mother? A wife? A daycare provider? An astronaut??” “Where has God called me??…Pierre, Africa, Guatemala, Blunt ( only SD people will probably know what this is)??”
I ask myself, I pray, I ponder all while taking my focus off of my current calling. Looking toward the future rather than being intentional and focused on the present.
David was found busy. Busy with the sheep God had given him. Busy with the work in front of him. Not waiting for a “higher” calling but busy being the best shepard he could be!!
Lord, I pray that I am always found busy listening to your voice and doing your will!! Not just busy for busy-ness sake, but always doing Your work and building your kingdom!!
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV http://bible.com/59/ecc.9.10.esv
That Could Preach 