After being anointed God's chosen king of Israel in front of his family and community David is placed back into the fields to tend sheep. This gives us some insight into what it takes to be a person after God's own heart. David shows amazing humility when he obeys his father and dutifully tends to the sheep. One of our study members contrasted this with Joseph who bragged to his family about his dreams of greatness and flaunted his coat of colors.
In his book Soul Print, Mark Batterson points out that David was exactly where he needed to be in order to be prepared to fight Goliath. While his older brothers were training in hand-to-hand combat in the army, David was defending sheep from lions and bears and improving his skills with the sling shot. If I had to fight Goliath, I would want to do it from as far away as possible. God is using David's time in the pasture to prepare him for the challenges ahead. Is God doing the same thing in your life? Maybe you think you should be somewhere else in life right now? Instead, consider what God might be trying to teach you right now.
This brings us to another thought. David defended the sheep from lions and bears risking his life. He was defending sheep that were not his own. Chances are these sheep would profit his older brothers more than him. Also, no one would fault David for losing sheep to wild animals. It happens. But David was not in the business of making excuses. He did what was right to the best of his ability even when no one was watching. What kind of person are you when no one is watching? Do you give more effort in doing your best, or do you spend time thinking up excuses of why you can't accomplish something? Give your best efforts wherever God has you in life. Be the best spouse you can be. Be the best neighbor you can be. Do your best in your job. If you can be trusted with the small things, then God might have some giant things waiting for you!
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