“Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 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. 21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.“ 1 Samuel 16.19-23
I wonder if modern doctors would diagnose Saul with something besides an evil spirit? Maybe they would say it was anxiety or bouts of depression. Maybe his blood sugar was low, just kidding, or his gout was acting up. But seriously, perhaps they would have diagnosed him differently. Maybe some of our ailments today are more spiritual then mental in nature. All the Bible says it that an evil spirit from the Lord would torment Saul, but that when David would play the lyre the evil spirit would leave him.
These were the best of days for David and Saul. Although Saul was in torment much of tIme, the gift that David had to offer brought relief and soothed Saul’s soul. How ironic that David, who had been anointed king by Samuel, was now serving in the court of the king. No one but Samuel, David and his family knew about the anointing. He was serving the king while waiting in line for the throne.
Sometimes we have been promised something by the Lord, given a dream or vision, or hopes for a new endeavor. Maybe these dreams and aspirations have yet to be fulfilled and we are waiting in the wings for God’s plan to unfold. This happens to all of us and it happened to David. He was anointed as God’s chosen leader, filled with the Holy Spirit and now served the beside the king until his time had come. David humbled himself before the Lord waiting on God to lift him up.
I remember feeling like this when I was young, wondering when my time would come to lead. Now as I have passed fifty I am living out those dreams. I am leading where I choose to lead and able to serve where God would have be serve. I really don’t have any unmet dreams or visions about serving God’s kingdom. I feel like I am right where I need to be.
But some of you who are much young than me, might be feeling like David, waiting for your time to come. If this is you, remain faithful. Seek God’s face. Allow him to mold and shape you into the person he would have you to be. It may not happen overnight but if he has put a dream in your heart to lead and grow a good work, then it will be fulfilled.
“O Lord God, you are good. I thank you for this life and for you to fulfill the desires of the heart which you put inside of me. Keep me on your path and walking in holiness and purity. Help me walk in the ways that lead to life eternal. Help me run from sin and find strength and help in my time of need. I love you Lord and praise your name. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen