David, the Wilderness Years - Monday 14 July 2008
Whatever Saul gave David to do, he did it—and did it well. So well that Saul put him in charge of his military operations. Everybody, both the people in general and Saul's servants, approved of and admired David's leadership. As they returned home, after David had killed the Philistine, the women poured out of all the villages of singing and dancing, welcoming King Saul with tambourines, festive songs, and lutes. In playful frolic the women sang, ‘Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!’ This made Saul angry—very angry. He took it as a personal insult. He said, "They credit David with 'ten thousands' and me with only 'thousands.' Before you know it they'll be giving him the kingdom!" From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David. 1 Samuel 17: 5-9 The Message
What an amazing time it must have been for the young David, it is estimated he was about seventeen at the time. One minute he was on the hillside watching sheep, not the most exciting of occupations, with no prospect of much else. Then he was unexpectedly and secretly anointed as king by Samuel, was widely recognized as the only musician whose skill was such that he could soothe the black moods of King Saul. He had killed the Philistine champion Goliath whose size and prowess in fighting had made experienced soldiers quake and suddenly he was the most famous and popular man in the kingdom.
Then of course it all went wrong. King Saul became jealous and his growing paranoia meant that David was time after time in danger of his life, Saul’s dirty tricks campaign left David as a fugitive who it was dangerous to help, even so some risked their lives to do this.
Sometimes it is tempting to think that because we are Christians, things will go smoothly for us and that we will be protected from disaster. Experience has shown me that this is not true; things do go wrong, people around us die, not everyone loves us, life is life and can be unfair. God does answer our prayers and often in miraculous ways but there are also times when we are puzzled like David to find the doors all slamming in our faces. Usually in the silence of our hearts we cry out to God ‘Why have you allowed this to happen?’
There is nothing in the book of 1 Samuel to suggest that David ever did this. He seemed to take both success and failure with steady acceptance and to decide wisely in the face of both. But most of all David always looked to God for guidance. When reading his story recently I could see that we can learn a lot from David’s wilderness experience to apply to our own.
Lord, help us to know that you are with us. Let us not forget you in the easy times nor doubt you when things go wrong. Like David help us to turn to you for guidance and protection and trust that you have a purpose for our lives. Amen | 