We read here how David finally seems to fulfill his God-given destiny. Way back in 1 Samuel 16, we read how the prophet Samuel anointed David to replace Saul as king, and now, after about 23 years, that which God said was His plan for David has finally come to pass.
Now, as we consider how God’s purposes for David’s life were fulfilled, it is important to understand that God has a plan in mind for each of our lives as well.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Yes, God has a plan for your life as His child! He has a destiny in mind for you to enter into just like He did for David; and from David’s example, we discover seven abiding principles that can enable us to make sure that God’s plans for our lives might be fulfilled.
1. Trust God’s Timing - 2:1a; 5:4-5
The story of David becoming the king of Israel is an amazing one. It is a beautiful example of patiently waiting on God to fulfill His plan for one’s life in His time. A few thoughts on trusting God’s timing:
A. Even when God seems late, He’s always on time.
B. Even if God’s purpose for your life is to have but one moment in time, your life is still one of eternal significance.
In David’s story, there are several people who each had a moment in time for which they are recognized. There is Saul’s daughter Michael (19:13-16), Ahimelech the high priest at Nob (22:14-16), Abiathar, Ahimelech’s son (23:9; 30:7), Abigail (25:1-44), Jonathon (20:1-42).
Now, we can assume that they were used of God in other ways. But even if the purpose of their life was simply to fulfill the role in God’s work mentioned in the story of David’s ascension to the throne of Israel, that is enough for their lives to have eternal purpose.
“A life well lived is not determined by length of life; but by depth of life.” - Anonymous
In God’s economy, every life has significance and can be used to serve His purposes.
C. God’s plan will adjust for the “seasons of life.”
When we are young, we have lots of energy, but little time. When we are old, we have lots of time, but little energy. But God still has a plan for us, no matter what season of life we are in.
D. You’re never too young or too old to be used by God.
Some suggest David was as young as 7 when Samuel anointed him; that he would have been around 12 when he faced Goliath; that he was probably around 15 when he fled from Saul; and we know he was 30 when he became king. Ray Vander Laan says our Lord’s disciples were all under the age of 20 with the exception of Peter.
Noah was between 500 & 600 years old when he began work on the ark; Abraham was 75 when he answered the call of God; Moses was 80 when he led the people of Israel out of Egypt; Caleb was 80 when he and Joshua led the people into the land of promise.
You are never too young or too old to be used of God! If you want to used of God, trust His timing and . . .
2. Seek God’s Guidance - 2:1b
“Prayer doesn’t change the will of God. Prayer gets in on the will of God and allows us to participate in the fulfillment of the will of God.” - Steve Lawson
3. Obey God’s Word - 2:2
“The straightest line between me and satisfaction in life is obedience to God.” - Anonymous
“The faithful, effective Christian life is not simply a great emotional adventure filled with wonderful feelings and experiences. It is first of all the humble pursuit of God’s truth and will and of conformity to it. The obedient Christian experiences joy and satisfaction beyond measure, far exceeding that of superficial believers who constantly seek spiritual “highs.” Life in Christ is not sterile and joyless. But true joy, happiness, satisfaction, and all other such feelings are by-products of knowing and obeying God’s truth.” - John MacArthur
4. Receive God’s Provision - 2:3
God provided for the needs of David and his men and their families. He will do the same for us if we will obey Him.
“But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” - Matthew 6:33 (CEV)
“If you just get the big things straightened out, you will have what you need in the little things. What everyone in the world is obsessed with, God makes a distant second. He’ll give you what you need to live on if you need Him in order to live.” - David Powlison
5. Accept God’s Assignments - 2:4a
“If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God’s will.” - E.M. Bounds
David was anointed king over Judah, but he wasn’t yet king over all Israel. He didn’t argue with God. He accepted the assignment of ruling Judah from Hebron. Later, David was made king over all Israel.
Too often, we are so intent on doing some “big thing” for God, that we fail to see the opportunities He has placed right before us. But if we are faithful in the little things, they can prepare us for bigger opportunities later. Jesus taught in Matthew 25:21 that if we are faithful in a few things, He will later trust us with greater things.
Because David was faithful to rule Judah from Hebron, he later ruled Israel from Jerusalem. But because the assignment to rule over Judah from Hebron was God’s assignment, there was none more important.
A Little Place
“Where shall I work for You, Lord?” My love flowed warm & free. He answered and said, “See that little place?
Tend that place for Me.” I answered and said, “Oh no, not there! No one would ever see, no matter how well my work was done. That’s not the place for me!” His voice, when He spoke, was soft and kind, He answered me
tenderly, “My child, please search your heart, are you working for them or Me? Nazareth was a little place and so was Galilee.”
If an assignment is given by God, though it may be small, it will make a big difference!
6. Watch God Work - 5:1-3
“If I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.” - Oswald Chambers
7. Never Forget Whose You Are and Who You Are.
This final principal is foundational to all the rest. As long as David remembered he belonged to God and God had called him to be king, he made good decisions; but when he forgot either of these things, he behaved in ways that got him into trouble.
On the third day of the new school year, my wife, Donna’s home room class was already getting a reputation among her fellow teachers for not being able to pay attention and follow the rules. Already, the class of 20 students had received 7 reprimands! On that third day of school, when she went to get them from computer lab, the teacher there told them to get in line. They did so, but they did not follow the proper protocol of putting up their headsets, pushing their chair under their desk, etc. When Donna say this, she told them all to return to their seats. She then reminded them that they were her home room and that they bore her name. They were McFadden’s class, and she would not have them continue to be known for being disruptive, because they were better than that. She then instructed them to get in line. This time they followed the proper protocol and they received no more reprimands the rest of the week. All because they were reminded of whose they were and who they were!
“The Lord wants to use you for special purposes, so make yourself clean from all evil. Then you will be holy, and the Master can use you. You will be ready for any good work.” - 2 Timothy 2:21 (Easy to Read Version)
Remembering that we are God’s children, created for his purposes will make sure we behave in ways that please Him, which will lead us to trust His timing, seek His guidance, obey His Word, receive His provision, accept His assignments, and see Him work!
