MONDAY
Yesterday my dad, Pastor Dave Adams, preached on the resilience of David. So, for the first three days this week I thought we would read over some of the stories of David’s life that reveal his incredible resilience in faith. Then, the last two days of this week, we will hear two more stories of resilience—one from Ian Ebler and the other from Mindy Hirst.
First, let’s look at the story of how David was chosen by Samuel to be king. After God rejected Saul as king, He told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to find the next king among the sons of Jesse. So, he goes and prepares a feast and invites Jesse and his sons.
1 Samuel 16:6–13 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.
Talk about disrespect. David wasn’t even invited to the party. He was the youngest among his brothers and therefore the lowest on the totem pole of social power. He had the worst job—shepherding sheep. It would have been easy for David to grow bitter and angry with his lot in life and the apparent snub of his father, here. Yet, it seems clear that this produced a humility in David.
1 Peter 5:5b-6 5 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.