S169P2 – Signs of a king: always kingly
1Sam. 22:1-2
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
This picture probably did not make any sense to a lot of people. David was to be king, and he had spent time in service to the current king, even marrying his daughter. From that position of being like a son to the king, David then became a hunted man and arguably the king’s most hated enemy. When he was found by his family and these other misfits, he was running for his life and hiding in a cave like a frightened animal. What happened after this group encountered David is very telling. They treated him not like an enemy of the king’s but like a king himself. David was not in any royal position or state, but they could not deny his calling to be king and submitted willingly to his leadership.
Saul thought that he could get rid of David and keep him from ascending to his throne. Actually, that throne belonged to the Lord. It was the throne for the king of God’s people, not the throne of Saul. What we see is God making David a king anyway even while Saul was in power over Israel. There was something about this man that made him a natural leader, someone others wanted to follow likely out of a feeling of security and trust. The actual office of king was not available to him at that time, but God let David be a king to these men because that is what he was called to do. Even before he ever sat on that throne, he behaved and walked like he already was king.
When Jesus walked the Earth as a poor man with no earthly qualifications or riches, people still gravitated to him. When it looked like He was nobody, He was living his role of king. The calling He carried drew some toward him but also drew others away from him, just like David and just like us. Before we occupy the offices or positions ordained for us, we will exhibit those traits and get a chance to use them. God has put them in us to be used now. A great world leader can still be a great leader even when he is unknown to the world. Father, help us to walk today in the gifts and talents You give us for that future calling, that we would live today like the people we are destined to be.