In 1 Samuel 16, we see the newly anointed future king of Israel serve his predecessor with humility and grace. Though David was promised the throne of Israel, his time had not yet come. Thus, David returned to his life as a shepherd. God would use the waiting and the trials for David’s good and to point us toward the Suffering Servant in whom we place our ultimate hope: Jesus.
How did God use David’s humility for His glory and David’s good? How do we see this idea fully exemplified in Jesus?
When God rejected Saul as king, the Spirit of the Lord left him, and an evil spirit tormented him day and night. Upon hearing that someone could relieve his distress, Saul sent his servants to retrieve the young David after one of Saul’s young men had heard David play the lyre (1 Samuel 16:18). Previously, we learned that David was a man after God’s own heart, and we see a humble, serving heart as David played the lyre in Saul’s time of distress.
Saul didn’t know then that David would be his successor. Saul loved David so much that he even gave him the role of armor-bearer, asking Jesse for permission to allow David to remain in his service. David faithfully and humbly served Saul.
We see an even greater picture of service through Christ’s depiction in Isaiah 53 as the Suffering Servant. While David’s humble service offered temporary relief for King Saul, the humble, sacrificial death of Jesus offers eternal rescue from sin for all who believe in Him.
May a humble, obedient adoration of the Lord mark us as His faithful followers. Pray for boys and girls to see Christ’s humility as our example and as our means of salvation by faith. Like Saul, we need peace only God can provide through Christ alone.
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