Seemingly pointless experiences God allows us to have, in hindsight, prove to have been useful in preparing us for an epoch-making moment. The recipient of one talent in the parable of talents failed to understand this lesson, at a huge cost to himself. What if David had despised the responsibility of taking care of his father’s few sheep and consequently been unfaithful in discharging it? He would certainly have forfeited an opportunity of a lifetime. Notice how God describes David in Psalms 89:20-21 : “I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him.” Where and under what condition did God find David? The Bible tells us: “He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands” (Ps 78:70-72). David did not acquire his great leadership skills in the royal courts of Israel, but in the wilderness with his father’s sheep.
A leader’s heart is the most important part of his leadership qualification. David could shepherd his people according to the integrity of his heart because his heart had learnt the most important lesson in leadership: submission to God. Until a leader’s heart is yielded to God, he or she lacks the legitimacy to lead effectively. The heart of the matter, as far as leadership is concerned, is a matter of the heart. Therefore, integrity of heart is the first criterion of effective and efficient leadership. Hence, the Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him… .” God’s outright rejection of Eliab is an example of this principle. In fact, Saul’s leadership over Israel was irredeemably mared because his heart switched loyalties from God to men. No wonder the Bible says, “Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited” (Jer 17:5-6).
It is instructive that God used an instrument (the sling), which David was skillful at using, to kill Goliath. That was in spite of the fact that the sling would hardly have made the list of required or even recommended weaponry for such a combat. David’s weapon was so out of place that Goliath asked, “… “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” [and]… cursed David by his gods” (1Sam 17:23). God values what you have, and will use it to give you triumph and promotion. The sling was really David’s thing because he had spent much time practicing it, until he became adept with it. Saul had offered David his own amour, but it was cumbersome for David, since he was not used to it. Find what you truly have and develop mastery in it, through focused and diligent practice. God worked with David’s dexterity to give Israel victory over the Philistines. Yes it is indisputable that it was the anointing that produced the remarkable outcome of the combat between David and Goliath. However, the anointing is God’s expression of Himself through human personality. Therefore, yield your heart to God and let Him express Himself through your humanity. Shalom.
