Can you imagine how hard it must have been to raise godly children in the days of Jesse?
Jesse was David’s father and he had six other sons as well. The Israelites were living in constant conflict. Nations came against them on every side. They were only a few generations removed from the exodus of Egypt and already they were forgetting some of the miracles that God had done to bring them to this place.
In all of this the Lord saw David, a young shepherd, and selected him to be the next king of Israel. What He saw wasn’t someone of great stature or strength, it wasn’t wealth and prestige. No, it was a humble and believing heart.
David was a young man who spent time tending his father’s sheep while his brothers went off to fight the battles under the leadership of King Saul, but it was David whom the Lord chose.
“ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’…And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.” I Samuel 16:7, 13 NLT
The Bible tells us that David was a man whose heart was for God. David had to learn his faith filled beginnings at home. He learned to listen to the voice of God and obey.
As parents and grandparents, we have a responsibility to raise our children to hear and know the voice of God. Each person has a divine plan for their life. God has a purpose for each of us to fulfill. Some will be inventors, teachers, leaders of industry, preachers, mothers, doctors, pilots, farmers, fishermen, giant slayers but all have a calling.
“ For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
We have the responsibility to pray for our children and ask the Lord to show us how to help them grow into young people who will honor and serve Him. We need to encourage them in the areas where they show natural talent and passion. Each day reminding them that the Lord has a unique plan for them, and He will strengthen them to fulfill it.
When everyone else stood back, shaking in their sandals, David moved forward toward the enemy.
“…Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. 24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.” I Samuel 17:23-24 NLT
“I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” I Samuel 17:34-37 NLT
That giant was no match for young David who moved forward in obedience to God. David knew the Lord had made a promise to Israel to protect them, so he trusted God to keep His word.
Who are the Davids’ in your life? Help raise them to honor and obey the Lord.