Tending sheep
Melanie - June 19, 2008
So, Sophie's Bible study group is doing Kay Arthur's "Return to the Garden" study this summer and my group is doing "A Heart Like His" by Beth Moore.
She's studying sex and I'm studying the life of David.
And judging by a little story about David and Bathsheba, I'd say David dealt with some sex issues.
But that's not what I'm talking about today. My group just finished Week One, so we haven't really gotten that far. We're only to the part where he killed Goliath with a slingshot.
Of course everyone knows that story because it is a big hit on the Sunday School flannel board circuit, as opposed to the whole Bathsheba thing which doesn't translate well to the Sunday School crowd.
It would raise some awkward questions from the six year olds.
Much better to stick with being thrown in a pit of fire or a den of lions. You know, family friendly stuff.
Anyway, as I finished my lessons last week, something really stood out to me about the life of David that I'd never thought about before.
In I Samuel 16: 1-13 God tells Samuel to go see Jesse of Bethlehem because He has chosen one of his sons to be the new king. Samuel went and when he got there He listened to God and anointed David with oil. Verse 13 says, "...and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power."
Yeah, so that's pretty cool.
But here's what I thought about. What happened after that moment? David has just been anointed with oil in the presence of his brothers, did any of them realize the significance of that moment? Did they know what was in store for their little brother?
And what about David? Did he just head on back to tend his sheep? I mean, I'm sure he did because that was his job. He tended the sheep. It wasn't as if he all of a sudden found himself sitting on a throne up in some sweet palace.
Haven't you ever felt that way? Something big happens or you feel like you've had some huge life moment and then the next day or the next minute you're back to scrubbing the toilet and cooking up some Kraft mac and cheese for the family.
Hopefully, you're not doing both at the same time because EWWW.
And if you're like me, you may wonder how God is going to bring you from where you are to where He wants you to be. How is He going to use you when you're busy running carpool or cleaning out the fridge?
How is He going to provide for your family? How is He going to use something bad that happened for good?
How is He going to get a young shepherd boy from the pasture to the throne?
In I Samuel 16: 14-23 we begin to see the answer. Saul is tormented by an evil spirit and was in need of some harp music. And, really, who doesn't benefit from a little harp music from time to time?
One of his servants happens to know a friend of a friend that knows David (I just made that up, I don't know how the servant actually knew David) and Hey! He plays the harp.
So Saul summons David to the palace to play the harp.
From the pasture to the throne.
Not because of anything David did or any situation he tried to work to his benefit. He was doing what he was supposed to be doing, where he was supposed to be doing it and God was in control.
God knew how to get David to the throne.
I know I have days (okay, honestly, maybe weeks) where I wonder how God can use me when I'm playing Kids' Cruise Director all day long.
"Welcome to your playroom. I don't feel bad that you're bored. Find something to play with or I will sell your toys to neighborhood children for $1.00."
But what I realized doing this study this week is that God knows the plans He has for me (doesn't it say that in the Bible somewhere?) and He is going to work in my life to fulfill those plans.
I need to listen to His voice and go when He says go, stay when He says stay, and pray when I'm not sure what He's saying one way or the other.
He can take me from my pasture to my throne.
Because, you know, He's God.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Pam
Pam
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (16)
I just love God for that — because He’s so much BIGGER than we give him credit almost all the time.
And if we would just follow like we should, instead of being all willful and wayward… but no, we gotta go our own way. We are people with stiff necks, He has said. I’m thinking we should work on that. Or maybe I’m just talking to myself. =)
Posted on June 19, 2008 12:20 AM
Melanie, I really needed to hear this today. Thank you. It is SO easy to get overwhelmed with the day to day and try to plan how to get to the throne. It is a good reminder to just wait on the Lord.
Posted on June 19, 2008 6:52 AM
I really needed to read that today, Melanie! Thanks for writing it! There have been times in my life when I have felt so “stuck” in a wilderness-type situation and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get out. And then God would allow someone to cross my path - or vice-versa - and I would suddenly understand that the season there was for a reason. I would use what I learned in the desert (that’s what I generally call my pastures. I like the mental picture of a pasture better if my desert can’t look like Ocracoke Beach!) for the brief respites in the oasis. Another issue I’ve been dealing with lately is significance. At the time I feel most insignificant, God is faithful to give me some throne time, too. I can’t seem to put it into words as well, but I’m grateful that when we feel unimportant to the world, He picks us up, holds us in His lap and reminds us just how loved we are to Him.
Posted on June 19, 2008 7:55 AM
Melanie,
I did “A Heart Like His” as the second study I led in women’s ministry. We tackled it in January of 2004… Hard to believe it has been more than four years since I started this wild ride.
God taught me so many important things through David’s life. I’ll just list a few:
1.) That it is not about “getting every detail of your life to fit into the right boxes.” It’s about living your life up close and personal with God. David was not great because he lived a stellar life before God, he was great because he lived a repentant life before the Lord.
2.) David was human just like you and I. He was chosen by God to carry the same anointing that is available to you and I in Christ. We have a responsibility to live in His anointing and be prepared to serve the purpose He is calling us out to serve. David is a beautiful picture of a heart sold out and willing to serve God. We have the capacity to live the wild adventure David did… We just have to submit ourselves to it.
3.) Even with the Lord’s anointing upon you, life is hard. I mean seriously, the young David was running for his life in the desert hiding in places called “the crag of the goats…” That alone could take me places, but we just won’t go there… David had to learn to trust God’ timing and the anointing he had received.
4.) It is not my job to displace the “Lord’s anointed.” This study came to me when God was transitioning me out of Youth Ministry and fully into leadership for women. I had particular issues with the Youth Pastor at our church after workiing in his ministry for nearly a year and was trying to produce “my will” in the midst of messy issues in our Youth. With two children in the Youth and three rapidly approaching it, I was desparate to make the Youth ministry a place where kids could grow and own their faith and minister out of their strengths.
What I didn’t realize was I was going about it all wrong? I got bad advice, followed it and ran my way over the Youth pastor with a bull dozer. I was in a state of frustrated misery when my husband and I finally had a meeting with the Youth pastor. I had developed deep relationships with several of the girls I had been teaching over the summer before and I was in anguish over the fact that they were being “stolen from me”.
I met with him and he issued a mandate - I could continue you in the youth ministry if I would recognize him as the authority and submit to it there. In the week I was given to weigh this and determine what God would have me do we studied the story of David and Saul in the cave. David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life… I won’t spoil it for you by telling you everything that God showed me and how, but when David told his fighting men why he didn’t kill Saul it was like an arrow in my heart.
I was fighting the purposes of God in the youth’s life, the youth pastor’s life and my own life. I had to say like David, “I can’t stay in a place where I am directly responsible to your authority, but I will not lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.”
Glory how God worked that out. I had their respect, my Senior Pastor’s confidence and respect and I moved into a ministry where I was free to minister out of my calling and strengths. It also allowed for a teachable moment for all those girls I had grown to love. One called me in a tizzy, “WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?”
I said, “It was my decision. It is best for everyone that I step down from my position in the Youth ministry.”
She said, “Well, what am I gonna’ do?”
I said, “I am still here, just a phone call away. And, you are going to follow Christ. Listen for the truth to be taught and no matter who is teaching you stick closely to the truth of God and the Christ we serve and you will be fine.”
Those girls from that one summer are all in their 20s, getting married and having babies now. I can hardly believe it! I love them so… still. And God did such a good thing.
BLessings.
Posted on June 19, 2008 8:14 AM
I’m in the praying stage right now.
What good words and I know I will think on this all day! Thanks for sharing them, Melanie.
I’m praying for both Deeper Still and this weekend. Love, holly
Posted on June 19, 2008 8:28 AM
Wow, this was such an encouragement to me today. My husband and I know that God has called us to adopt…He made that part crystal clear…that’s sort of like the annointing of David. But we’re having a hard time figuring out how to get to the “throne”, so to speak. We’re very confused by the process, and frustrated by the timetables. But what a great reminder that God knows how to get us there, that He’s in control, that He knows the plans He has for us!
Posted on June 19, 2008 8:36 AM
I think this is my favorite thing you’ve ever written.
And Michelle, your comment blessed my soul. Especially this: “David was not great because he lived a stellar life before God, he was great because he lived a repentant life before the Lord.”
Thanks for that.
Posted on June 19, 2008 9:33 AM
My dh is currently in an airplane headed off on a business training weekend that I really wanted to attend, but I am here … home with our 3 little ones … you couldn’t have posted that at a better time. Thank you.
I think I’ll print it off and hang it up as a reminder that I am right where I’m supposed to be.
Posted on June 19, 2008 9:42 AM
So good, Melanie. So darn good.
Posted on June 19, 2008 9:54 AM
Thank you for what you wrote today,it was just the right encouragement that I needed to hear. It gave me hope.
Posted on June 19, 2008 9:56 AM
Yes, I’m in the praying stage, too. I hate it when I’m impatient! I guess that’s why God keeps teaching me about it :-)
As God’s child we are all anointed for something. He’s just not ready to show me how I am yet, and that’s why I’m in the praying stage!
Posted on June 19, 2008 9:57 AM
I’ve had those moments where the WORD OF THE LORD (echo, echo) has come to me and then next thing I know I’m picking up dirty underwear off the floor! Not mine of course. Still, He speaks eveyday! Funny though, I don’t find myself cleaning my toilet. Wait, have I said too much?
Posted on June 19, 2008 10:37 AM
That was Awesome Melanie, really really Awesome! Thank you for that today.
Posted on June 19, 2008 2:33 PM
Preach on, sister. That’s truly a word from THE WORD. Sometimes it’s a lot less hassle to tend sheep than to rule from a throne. I tend to want the easy life and forget that it usually takes WORK to get me where God wants me to be. But, alas, I’m a working girl and I’ll get there one day.
Posted on June 19, 2008 3:40 PM
OK, these were the exact verses we discussed in Sunday School this morning, so I am definitely getting that God wants me to hear this message. Loved your take on it- from the pasture to the throne. Wow, I love that!
Posted on June 22, 2008 7:21 PM
Melanie, What a great post!! It was a timely word for me. I am in the praying stage and resting stage waiting to see where God is going to send me. I have pondered this over and over in my head and to be honest have panicked about it from time to time. So, I thank you for this post. It has or you have encouraged me today!! Love, Patty
Posted on July 3, 2008 6:38 PM