When we hear sermons about David the son of Jesse being preached it is often his pathway of suffering since he was anointed King by Samuel that we often hear about. This includes his near death experiences at the hands of Saul and also being pursued by his own son Absalom among many battles he had to fight.

We often don’t hear sermons or teachings about the time before David was anointed King of Israel by Samuel. Although there are not many scriptures referring to this time, what we have are enough for us to see that the spirit of rejection or abandonment was suffered even in David’s formative years when he lived at home with his parents and set a foundation to other struggles. The two that come to mind in this context are

1.In 1 Samuel 16, when Samuel asked Jesse to bring out all his sons in a gathering so that he would choose the one God had told him to anoint out of all of them, Jesse brought seven of his sons apart from David. David was the one who tended the sheep and at such a great event before the prophet of God, David was not deemed worthy among his sons to meet the man of God. In fact Jesse was in disobedience, for the instruction was that all of his sons should be present. The “who would be interested in a young shepherd boy” reference to David was also thought of by Jesse as how God saw David.

However God expressed his nature when he told Jesse not to judge which of the sons qualified for the kingly anointing by their appearance. God said
“…for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7 KJV)

This should be a lesson to us that how God sees each of us often differs from how we might not only see ourselves but other people, be they family members, acquaintances, friends or even peoples groups of different cultures to ours.

Our prayer is that God would continue to change us so that we see ourselves and others as He does according to His word if we do not already.
If He was partial, then so would His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. It would only have been for a few. However scripture says “God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten son…” (John 3:16).

This includes everyone however insignificant in appearance or in other ways they may appear. Our misjudgments in relation to people could have diverse eternal consequences. I make this statement thinking of how if but for God’s intervention to cause Jesse to own up to the fact that he had another son tending to sheep, Samuel would never have known ! David would not have had his inheritance as King of Israel nor his descendants, including Jesus Christ who inherited the Kingly anointing. This is just a thought of course. Praise the LORD that He foreknew as He always does how the situation would unfold so He outworked it for His and David’s good.

As in the case of David, whatever situation is working against us, God has a plan to counteract and thwart it for our sake. All things work together for the good of them that love the LORD. (Romans 8:28)

2.David said the following in his Psalm (chapter 27) referring to God’s acceptance of him even when his mother and father had rejected him:

“Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Ps 27:9-10 KJV)

Some have said it was in reference to being left out when Samuel called for Jesse’s sons. I personally decern that there was more than that one incident to merit him mentioning his parents’ rejection of him the way he did.

It is evident that although Satan does not know everything, he knows those who are marked for greatness before God which means in simple terms that he knows that everyone who belongs to God is a danger to his kingdom, he being the Prince of the evil world system.

Paul encouraged the believers in Ephesus:
“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10 KJV)

As with David, there was an assignment, a spiritual death decree as it were, on our lives from the moment we were conceived, therefore well before we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and as David anointed for service. But God foreknew us and predestined that we would conform to the image of His Son Christ Jesus.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren…What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?” (Romans 8:29,31 KJV).

David also understood that he was not only created by God but predestined for God’s purposes as he expressed through Psalm 139 exclaiming that he was fearfully and wonderfully made and also
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! [If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” (Psalm 139:17-18)

David suffered from the spirit of rejection and abandonment recurrently since his childhood but rather than allow his constant misfortunes to depress him to the point of no return, instead he strengthened or encouraged himself in the Lord through prayer and praise to His God to whom he committed his life totally.

He said “One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” (Ps 27:4)

Brothers and sisters, be reminded that our lives are under the control of he who has power over death and came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Jesus Christ took the keys from Satan “Hades and Hell” (Rev 1:8) when he died and on ascended to Father, he took captivity captive… and gave gifts to men”(Eph 4:8). In other words he unlocked us (this truth is appropriated in the lives of those who accept it as truth) from the “prison cell” of demonic bondage and restored unto us our predestined “gifts” or inheritance from God.

As long as we stay in the place of intimacy with God as true worshippers as exemplified by David, we will gain restoration and restitution of our inheritance and complete the course set before us to achieve all that God planned for us as David did and took his position as king of Israel after many years of travail.

David was anointed as King of Israel to replace King Saul and that was a decree in heaven which neither Satan nor anyone could put a stop to. Likewise my word to you today is this: whatever the LORD has planned for you is established through Jesus Christ. You may not have the same beauty or gifts someone you admire has, but you equally have beauty and gifts they don’t have. As much as theirs is unique so are yours.

“…hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num.23:19KJV)

Your part is to stay in agreement and say daily “Your kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” LORD!

If as David had for many years you have brokenness in your heart, let it break forth in song for David’s victorious end in all his natural and spiritual battles, marked by praise as his greatest weapon, is always guaranteed for you.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.

Deborah Esther x

©Deborah E. Nyamekye 22/11/2015

 

• Uncategorized