1 Samuel 16:18 KJV – “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.”
King David was undeniably an amazing man. When you read about his life, you start to wonder how he came to possess such diverse talents. How did David learn these things? We admire David for all that he accomplished, yet His interests seem to contradict one another. If he lived today, David would drive news analysts crazy. I imagine an interview would go something like this:
“Mr. David, it says here that your pursuits are a bit unusual. Can you describe them?”
“Well, I love to compose and sing songs—poetry too. But when I’m not writing, I go to war. Fighting under dangerous conditions and killing giants is my specialty. I love it when those big men fall!”
What a boy David was, and what a man he became. But remember, before David was famous, he was a lowly shepherd first. Long before he donned a warrior’s armor or wore the king’s crest, time with God was his tutor. In the lonely fields of his father’s flocks, David’s pursuit of the things of God made him a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
Perhaps how we spend our time could stand some change. Maybe our worship is a little weak, our sword somewhat rusty, and we haven’t fought our battles well. The fix is to get alone with God—still our hearts, quiet our souls, and listen. It just might make you and me into giant-killing, songwriting, worship-singing, lovers of God, too!
