' GRACE WILL AMPLIFY YOUR CV '

In 1Samuel 16:13, David was anointed as the king of Israel. But how does he get from the shanty huts of Bethlehem to the palace where the king dwells? We know that just about that same time, Saul developed a rather queer mental condition but no medical journal – ancient or modern – has “that David boy from Bethlehem” as the recommended remedy to periodic insanity. The skill of translating Saul’s dilemma to David’s fortune fell in the hands of one man in Saul’s palace, a man that interestingly, wasn’t even named.

Saul may have commanded his servants to get him a _“skilful player on a harp,”_ but David was definitely NOT the only skilled harp player in Israel. Israel was a nation of several millions, not a local church of 50. Also, David wasn’t living in Gibeah – Where Saul’s palace was but in a faraway town of Bethlehem. When that servant presented David’s qualifications to Saul, there was no question that David had to be the man. 

1Sa 16:18 says,  “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is skillful in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a handsome person, and the LORD is with him.”

There’s no record that this man was David’s relative. And even if he was, considering that David was always away from the family caring for the sheep and that David’s brothers weren’t particularly fond of him, (1Sa 16:11; 17:28), it’s quite unlikely that this city official could know David that well. 

When grace is at work, people see the best in you and think the world of you. Let’s imagine some responses from Saul as we read his words again:

“Your highness, this boy is Skilful in playing,” (Alright, that’s pretty much what I need, isn’t it?), 

“AND a Mighty valiant man,  (Interesting, skilled AND strong, that’s an unusual combination.)_

“AND a man of war,” (Are you kidding me? A guy that’ll be useful when NOT playing the harp?) “AND prudent in matters,” (What! He’ll be good both for my wars AND for my administration?)

“AND a handsome person,” (OK now I HAVE to see this guy)_ 

“AND the LORD is with him.” (O really? And I suppose you got ALL THAT by just looking at his file.  But I’ve already been convinced; go get me this “David” as soon as possible!)

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Beloved, in this season, grace will make all things work for you. You’ll be spoken favourably for in places far beyond your sphere of influence; people who don’t know you will vouch for you; and you’ll be exaggerated and amplified above measure, and you will see the goodness of manifest in every area of your life, in Jesus mighty name.

PASTOR GREG ELKAN.