Living Close to God's Heart
Past
David's difficult childhood
Kept in the background
Despised occupation
Lonely job
Hard life
David drew closer to God through his work
The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23)
God calls people where they are to find Him in their everyday lives
God's time of preparation
Present
David's anointing was public declaration of God's work in his heart in private
Family failed to recognise it
Even later they still failed
Eliab is angry with David: When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle." (1 Samuel 17:28)
Holy Spirit came to David
… from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power (1 Samuel 16:13)
Present is God's time of action
Future
David was anointed but he was not yet crowned king
David had to wait God's time
Time of preparation and testing
He continued his ordinary job
We have been anointed but we still await our crowns
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
We have been promised the Kingdom of God
We have to wait God's time
Time of preparation and testing
Continue with our daily lives
Future is God's time of fulfilment
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
Trust God - trust God's timing