2S-INTRO-11: David’s Life Wasn’t In His Control — Neither Is Yours

David’s rise to power occurred in three stages.

The first stage was when he worked in Saul’s court as the king’s musician, loyal armor-bearer, and a close friend to Saul’s son, Jonathan.

The second stage was when David became Saul’s hunted enemy.

With Jonathan’s help, David escaped, formed a group of 600 soldiers, and spent his days on the run.

Finally, the third stage was when David became king over Judah, the southern part of Canaan.

Soon after, he would also become ruler over the northern part of Canaan, the region loyal to Saul.

The first two stages are found in the second half of the book of 1st Samuel.

The third stage occurs in the opening chapters of 2nd Samuel.

So if we were to draw a line diagraming David’s rise to the throne, at the left-hand side of the paper, the beginning of the line would start low when he began life as an unknown commoner.

Then it would rise steeply when David was chosen to be a member of Saul’s court and then later slew Goliath.

However, soon afterward, the line would take a nosedive as Saul became jealous of David and attempted to kill him, forcing David to flee.

Finally, the line would rise once again when David assumed the throne of Israel and eventually became King over both the north and south of Israel.

Interestingly, we can see a similar up-and-down pattern in Joseph’s life.

However, in the case of Joseph, his life began on a high note when he was born Jacob’s favorite son, and was given a special coat of many colors in his teen years.

But soon afterward, his life experienced a steep decline when due to the jealousy of his brothers he was sold into slavery and ended up in Egypt.

However, things didn’t end there.

God gave Joseph the gift of being able to interpret dreams.

With this power, he rose to tremendous power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, and ended up saving the brothers who sold him into slavery.

How about the Messiah?

At the beginning of his ministry, his life also started on a high note when he healed the blind, and the sick, forgave sins, and raised the dead.

During this time, he was greatly loved by the people.

But then, things took a turn for the worse, when the religious establishment turned against him.

Yeshua was accused of blasphemy and nailed to a Roman cross.

But we all know, that wasn’t the end.

The line rose again literally…as God raised His Son from the dead and history has never been the same since.

So what’s the takeaway here?

I was gonna say something like don’t judge your life by current negative circumstances because God can turn things around in the end or some mumbo jumbo like that.

I mean yeah, that’s a valid takeaway.

But I’m feeling a bit philosophical today.

So here’s what’s coming to me.

Despite what the whole personal development world teaches and preaches, at the end of the day, you are NOT in control of your life.

Here is what the Book of Proverbs says: 

“The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.”
– Proverbs 16:9

“Many are the plans
in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of
the Lord that will stand.”
– Proverbs 19:21

Or how about this verse from the book of Jeremiah:

“I know, O Lord,
that the way of man
is not in himself,
that it is not in man
who walks to direct his steps.”
– Jeremiah 10:23

I like that last one.

Jeremiah is clearly saying we are not the one who controls our steps.

Does this mean we shouldn’t make goals or make any plans to improve our lives?

Of course not.

I think we should make plans and make efforts to improve our lives.

But here’s what’s coming to me.

Don’t get too attached to the outcome…

Or stress out over the results.

We should plant the crops…

But be humble and realize that it was God who provided the soil…

And it is God who will provide the rain to nourish those crops.

Or He may not.

God may close one window in your life but open another.

Either way, trust is in order.

Dang, I’m rambling now.

As I told you, I’m kind of in a free-flowing contemplative mood this Sunday morning here in Tokyo.

I guess what I wanna say is so much frustration in life is due to stressing out and being too attached to certain outcomes in life that we feel we have to make happen or we’ll die or something.

“I just HAVE TO get that business deal closed!”

“I absolutely MUST HAVE that amount of money in my bank account!”

“I HAVE TO marry that girl.”

Or…

“I HAVE TO get married and have kids or society will view me as a loser.”

Or whatever it is you’re stressing about.

Chill man.

Go get a latte or something.

Trust God, and be happy.

It’s all good.

Everything’s gonna be fine.

Ya feel me?

Alright, I’m done.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“‘Now listen, you who say,
“Today or tomorrow we will
go to this or that city,
spend a year there,
carry on business and make money.’ 
Why, you do not even know
what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life?
You are a mist that appears
for a little while and then vanishes.
Instead, you ought to say,
‘If it is the Lord’s will,
we will live and do this or that.’”
-James 4:13-15

NEXT TIME WE BEGIN 2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 1