The doors of destiny swing open on the hinges of honour. David was anointed as God’s chosen King of Israel when he was just a boy. He had to wait for about 15 years for the incumbent King Saul to die. In those 15 years, David served as a hired musician and in military service to King Saul. In a huge portion of those years, David was in exile, fleeing from a murderous and envious King Saul. In all the 15 years, David’s words, actions and attitude never insult, belittle or dishonour the rejected king. When questioned on why he showed honour to the king, David replied that Saul may be a rejected king but he was still God’s appointed one. David understood that what God has personally mounted is up to God to personally dismount.
A person of dishonour would be too intoxicated by his anointing to serve King Saul as a hired harpist. A person of honour, on the other hand, would know that the years of being Saul’s harpist were the preliminary exposures to life around the throne that would be eventually inherited. Dishonourable people demean lowly tasks that pave their way to their destinies.
A person of dishonour would disdain the military service to a rejected king Saul and only fantasize of his coming reign. A person of honour, on the other hand, would see it as hands-on experience to lead his future armies against invading nations. Dishonourable people are impatient; they feel entitled to the end-product without paying the requisite price of process.
A person of dishonour would see the flee from Saul and living in the wilderness as God failing to keep His promised word on the throne. A person of honour, on the other hand, would see it as God teaching them the hardships of the common folk they would one day rule over. Dishonourable people are blasphemous; they blame God on a whim because they are presumptuous; they assume that if God promised it then the results should come easy for them.
In the 15-year period, all of the troubles from David resulted in the writing of the Psalms. The Psalms in large part are a collection of David’s painful cries and prayers. The tough days on the way to the throne were moments of intimacy with God; David prayed. He spoke to the LORD about everything he felt, good or bad. A dishonourable person, on the other hand, would have a flurry of grumblings, complaints and fist-shakes to God; they would reject prayer as a form of strike against God. That is because dishonourable people are short-sighted; they are unable to discern the role of hardship in the formation of character. This myopic nature makes then perennially ungrateful when good happens to them. It also makes them insufferable company. This is often because dishonourable people think it is about them; it’s not; its about the throne that would eventually bring the ultimate King- the messiah.
An honourable person understands that the 15 years of David were not just a waiting room- they were a preparation room. On the flip side, King Saul sat on the throne for 15 years as a rejected King. He was rejected because he dishonoured God. God is the only person who can fire you and still let you keep your job. God can have a dishonourable king warm a seat for an honourable shepherd boy. The LORD doesn’t just want an anointed king on Israel’s throne; He also wants an honourable one. The opening statement remains true- the doors of destiny swing open on the hinges of honour; be reminded reader that they also swing closed on the hinges of dishonour.
Discussion1 Comment
God raises the humble an brings down the proud. David’s life shows God is faithful to his promises even though they may not come to fruition the way we expected. Very encouraging post.