(1 Samuel 16:21 NLT) So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” David’s story is amazing. After the shepherd boy was summoned to the palace he was told what would be expected of him. The king was being tormented by an evil spirit and David’s job was to play the harp whenever the king needed peace. Although David knew that Samuel, the same prophet who had anointed Saul to be king, had recently anointed him to be Saul’s successor, David never brought it up and he simply did as he was told. David was young, probably 17 or 18 years old, but he exhibited maturity beyond his years. Whenever the tormenting spirit troubled Saul, David played the harp, the spirit would withdraw, and Saul would receive peace. Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
Our text says that “Saul loved David very much.” Saul loved him so much that he appointed David to be his armor-bearer. In Scripture, an armor-bearer was a servant who carried additional weapons for commanders. Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 16:12), Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6-17), and Joab (2 Samuel 18:15) had armor-bearers. Armor-bearers were also responsible for killing enemies wounded by their masters. After enemy soldiers were wounded with javelins or arrows, armor-bearers finished the job with clubs or swords. Since Saul never entered combat while David was his armor-bearer, David’s duties non-combat duties were more like an adjutant. This meant that David was around the king all the time and he was exposed to the throne and the ins-and-outs of the monarchy. This is very important because some day David would be king and he needed to know how to rule as a monarch and I am sure he learned things, in the presence of Saul, that he would have never learned in the field with his sheep.
In several messages I have mentioned the fact that grace and favor will open doors that no man can close, but let me ‘pull the string’ on that thought a little further. Think about David’s life and you can see the fingerprints of God all over it. Not only did God supernaturally promote David in front of his family, but He then opened a door for David to immediately come to the palace in order to play a musical instrument that none of us he could play before the summons came. Then, once in the palace, the Lord opened a door for David to spend more time with Saul, so that he could learn all he needed to learn in order to prepare himself to be Saul’s successor. Notice that David did none of this on his own. This was all being done by grace. The only part you could say David did was playing of the harp, but even then, one could make the argument that God gave him the grace to develop into the musician he was. There is no way around it, David was who he was, by the grace of God. The same can be said of us.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Your gift (and God’s grace) will make room for you, and bring you before great men (Prov 18:16).
2. The Lord will expose you to people today that will help develop you into the person He needs you to be tomorrow.
3. When God brings you before great men, don’t do all the talking. Be observant and ready to receive all the Lord wants to deposit in you. He brought you into their company for a reason, make sure you maximize the moment.
4. There is no such thing as luck and nothing happens haphazardly. Either spiritual forces (God or satan) are working behind the scene or you are reaping what you have sown.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your immeasurable love and overwhelming grace towards me. You love me more than I love myself. You have opened doors for me that I could never open for myself and You bring me before great men and women, in order to prepare me for what You want to do in my life. As You bring me before great men and women, I declare that I will maximize the moment. I will not do all the talking. I will be ready to observe and receive all You want to deposit in my life. Wisdom is transferred by association and as You bless me to associate with great people, greatness will be deposited in me. I know that You are preparing me today, for my tomorrow and I declare that I will maximize this season of my life, so that I can be prepared for the next. Every day Father, I get incrementally closer to Your desired destination for my life. Forward ever, backward never! The best is yet to come! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
