Earlier today the whole campus of CPU with more than 10,000 students, faculty and staff participated in an earthquake drill. The purpose of the drill is to instill in the minds of Centralians to be prepared in whatever emergency situation that will come our way.
In the Bible, we can learn some lessons about preparation from David.
First, David is teaching us that you must prepare ourselves for the work that God has called you.
The preparation will not be easy. You have to work hard for it and make great sacrifices.
David was anointed by Prophet Samuel to be the next king. This was done even before he fought the giant Goliath. David has to prove himself with the anointment. He worked hard in the pasture and fields tending his flock of sheep, and defending them from wild beasts. This was his preparation. And then he felt ready. He stood before King Saul and pleaded to be given the chance to fight Goliath. The king reluctantly agreed, and David he defeated the champion of the Philistines. He was able to do this with the help of God, and with his preparation.
Second, David is reminding us that others will not recognize your calling. You have to prove them wrong.
David was anointed by Prophet Samuel but after that it seems that his brothers did not recognize it. Maybe this was because his brothers were passed on by the prophet. His brothers told him to go back to tending the sheep.
Yes, David continued tending their sheep but he now sees it with a new perspective. This pastoral work of David resulted to a lot of reflection, writing and singing. Psalm 23 (The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want…) was the result of David’s willingness to continue on tending the sheep. He did not become bitter nor demanded that they respect him because of his anointment. Instead he turned his shepherding work as an inspiration, and later as a leadership model – a model that Jesus even used when He declared “I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Third, David is telling us that others will hate you for your calling. You just have to be patient and put your trust in God.
King Saul was envious of David. People were singing songs, and writing poetry about the exploits of David. King Saul was full of hate and anger. He pursued David and attempted many times to kill him with no avail. When Saul and his sons died, David became their next king. It was about 12 years after the anointment of Prophet Samuel that David became the “shepherd of Israel” (1 Chronicles 11:2).
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
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March 12, 2018