March 5, 2017 - God Prepares David

TONY & MICHELLE PAWLAK

MEMORY VERSE

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an  example for the believers…

I Timothy 4:12a

Have you ever been on a sports team? What did you think of those endless hours of practice, exercise, learning drills and plays?  Did you ever wonder, "Why do I have to do all this?"  It wasn't until game day that all that work paid off and you performed well on the field, court, etc.. 

Succeeding in life is all in the preparation.  

Last week we learned of Samuel anointing Young David to be the next King of Israel.  However, David wasn't yet ready to be king so God had some preparation work for

him to do...like herding sheep.  What?? Herding sheep is preparation to be king?  Of course.

While herding sheep, young David learned what it was to care for others and even be willing to lay down his life to protect

them. Whenever a lion or a bear would show up and try to run off with one of David's sheep, David would risk his own life to save the sheep and kill the lion or bear.  

This bravery came in handy one day when David's father sent David to take food to his brothers who were off with the army fighting the Philistines.  When David arrived, he saw a Philistine named Goliath, who was nine feet tall, standing between the two armies challenging any Israelite who was brave enough to face

him.  The entire Israelite army looked on in fear and no one would dare try to fight the giant, even when King Saul tried to bribe them with money.  He even said whoever would kill Goliath would marry the king's daughter.  Still, they were all too afraid.

Goliath even started making fun of God.  This was too much for David to stand.  He decided to fight the giant himself!  King Saul tried to talk him out of it but David was determined.  He went out to face Goliath with only a sling and his faith in God to protect him.

David took five smooth river stones and stood before

Goliath. His very first stone nailed Goliath right between the eyes, knocking him out!  David then used Goliath's own sword to remove the giant's head!  Suddenly, the Philistines weren't so brave anymore and they all ran away. Young David was a hero.

One of David's favorite hobbies was playing a harp called a lyre.  He would use it to sing praises to God.  God used this to prepare David for something else.  What could playing a lyre prepare David for? Let's see.

When King Saul had disobeyed God, God's Holy Spirit left him and an evil spirit came to make Saul miserable.  Whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, it would torment him.  They decided that maybe music would

calm their king down so they sent for young David.  Whenever David would play his lyre for Saul, the evil spirit would leave him and Saul would be happy again. All this and more were moving David closer and closer to becoming king.  

So when you go through hard time, keep having faith.  Maybe it's just God preparing you for something amazing!   I know it's hard to have faith when things are going wrong but we must remember that God has things well in hand.  Neither hard times, old age, or even being young can stop God from using you.