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The Long War from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

After King Saul rebelled and turned away, the Lord chose a new king, but it wouldn't be a microwaved instant king this time. He would begin preparing him early on. So the prophet Samuel was given a new order: to go and anoint a new godly king for Israel from the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem. 

(1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV)  Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

Samuel went to Bethlehem and asked Jesse and his sons to come to a sacrifice he was offering. Jesse and seven of his sons came to see Samuel. All of them were fine, strong young men. Eliab, the oldest son, looked to be the pick of the litter to Samuel:

(1 Samuel 16:6–7 NKJV)  So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

The Lord rejected Eliab, so they moved on to the next one, and then the next: 

(1 Samuel 16:8–10 NKJV)  So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

When Samuel ran out of candidates, he probably scratched his head and asked Jesse, "Are you sure all your sons are here?"

(1 Samuel 16:11 NKJV)  And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”

(1 Samuel 16:12–13 NKJV)  So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. 

So young David was anointed by Samuel, but then he returned to tending his father Jesse's sheep. In the natural, things hadn't seemed to change that much for David. He had to protect the sheep, so he learned to fight off lions and bears. In the quiet times, he played the harp and wrote songs. He became pretty good with a sling and a stone. Unknown to David, things were happening behind the scenes: 

(1 Samuel 16:14–16 NKJV)  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”

While David was out in the field, tending his father's sheep and passing the time with his hobbies, the Lord opened a new door for him. The one he had been anointed for years ago, to become the next king of Israel. Someone learned of David's musical skill and told King Saul about it: 

(1 Samuel 16:17–19 NKJV)  So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.” Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

The Lord had spent years silently preparing David in the wilderness, and now the battle began. David thought he was just doing what he liked, enjoying his hobbies, playing music, and slinging stones while tending sheep. But all of those skills were vitally important to his future.

David was summoned to the palace to play soothing music for King Saul on that harp he had learned to play. He became Saul's armor bearer and soon downed the giant Goliath in solo combat with that sling he practiced with. 

The Lord promoted David in the eyes of the people, and he became the leader of the army. David's name was well-known throughout Israel. Perhaps, a little too much. One day when he returned home from battle, a group of women singers changed everything:

(1 Samuel 18:6–9 NKJV)  Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

King Saul became so jealous of David that he tried to pin him to the wall with a spear and kill him, and David had to flee for his life. That began a long war between those who were with David and those who were with Saul. 

(2 Samuel 3:1 NKJV)  Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Even though David had been chosen and anointed as king when he was young, the Lord did not hand it to him on a silver platter. David had to learn to fight and struggle and win, to overcome. He lived through some hard times, and the lessons he learned helped prepare him for the work God had in store. 

David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. This is the way. Sometimes things don't instantly change for us because this is a long war. 

Judges 3:1 mentions that God did not drive out all the enemies before Israel when they entered the Promised Land. In the same way, God does not instantly change every area of our lives so we can have a better relationship with Him. What kind of one-sided relationship would that be? 

Instead, we work together as partners. Through the battle, the Lord teaches you how to war and use your faith, the Word, and prayer to overcome. During this, we may experience both victories and temporary defeats, but all the while, know that we are growing stronger and stronger, while our enemy grows weaker and weaker. 

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for taking care of me! Please speak to me in a clear way that I can understand. Help me see the big picture and overcome the enemy in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!