Where Did You Find God Today?

I was re-reading First Samuel 16 where Samuel goes through all the brothers and then asks if is there one more? “Yes, but he is just a boy and the shepherd.” In those days, shepherding was one of the lowest chores, so it was delegated to the youngest child or woman in the household. Then why did God choose a shepherd boy to be the future king His people were praying to have established?

Answer: David already was developing the skills. Shepherds are overseers. They put the welfare of the flock over themselves. They are assigned to protect the herd, which cannot defend itself, and they have to be brave enough to fight off predators. Sheep can wander aimlessly without the shepherd’s constant supervision. Shepherds learn diligence and also humility. They learn to quickly analyze any situation and act appropriately. Yet they are consistently obedient to the master of the sheep.

Sort of sounds like the Hebrews at the time. A sheep without a shepherd. Oh, they had a king, but Saul did not put them above himself. David would be the one with the skills to bring them together as a nation and defeat most of their neighboring enemies. Plus, David had developed the survival skills God knew he would need to live in the wilderness and hang out in caves to avoid being killed by the jealous Saul’s armies.

So a shepherd, in God’s eyes met all the necessary qualifications needed to become a great king.

Still does. That is why our Lord is called the Good Shepherd because we are like sheep who have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). We don’t have David anymore, but we have the One who created him. Even when we wander, we are never out of His sight. His rod and staff still comfort (Psalm 23:4).

God sees our potential. No matter your circumstances, your fumbles and stumbles, your successes and achievements, God measures your experiences and sees how they can be used to His glory. You may not feel up to the task, but the Lord knows you have it in you. So hang close and let Him bring it out. Be obedient to the Master. Everything does happen for a reason, just like your grandma said!