“One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.” 1 Samuel 16:18–21
Two weeks ago, our men’s Bible study watched a video from Pastor James Merritt and he spoke about toleration. If we don’t tolerate what this sinful world tells us to tolerate, then we are intolerant. The world insists that we tolerate the sinful stuff in our world…just look the other way. What or who will it possibly hurt?
I read the above scripture in a devotion this week and the early part of the relationship between David and Saul has a few lessons for our world today.
First, God's solutions are often strange and too simple to ‘our’ way of thinking. Be open to His ways. Too often, we try to make God complex and complicated. He isn't. Ain’t God good? Amid all the complications with Saul and the throne, God simply said to Samuel, "Go where I tell you to go. I've got a simple answer. A new man. You just follow Me, and I'll show you." Don't make the carrying out of God's will too complicated. It isn't. Stay open to His strange yet simple solutions.
Second, God's promotions are usually sudden and surprising, so be ready. Are you still waiting? At the time you least expect it, it'll come. Just like His Son's return from heaven. Suddenly and surprisingly He will split the clouds and be with us. Just when we expect Him the least He'll be there, like a thief in the night. And that's the way His promotions are. He watches you as you faithfully carry out your tasks, and He says to you, "I know what I'm doing. I know where you are, and I know how to find you. You just stay ready as you carry out your job."
Finally, God's selections are always sovereign and sure, so be sensitive. That applies to choosing a mate as well as losing a mate. It applies to our being moved from one place to another, even though we thought we'd remain there ten more years. It also applies to those God appoints to fill the shoes of another. How easy to second-guess God's selections! How necessary, when tempted to do that, to remind ourselves that His selections are sovereign and sure.
God is looking at our town, our country, our neighborhood, and He's looking for His people to whom He can say, "You are Mine. I want to use you there because you proved yourself faithful there." Don’t tolerate evil here in our world. When we do, the evil foe tells us there is nothing for us to repent of as ‘everything’ in this sinful world is just fine. Our calling is to be faithful in the demanding tasks, whether that is our education, our marriage, our occupation, or just the daily grind of life. That's the kind of men, women and children God wants to use on this side of Paradise.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay