Tuesday Talk is about YOU…
Every Tuesday we engage in one big question, topic or idea. You are invited to write in with a suggestion you want to share. I surely do not have all the answers but know that together we can generate some great conversation and have fun in the process. (Feel free to post your topics, questions, and your great thoughts in the comments below!) Together, we will stay informed and equipped about topics that matter!
Katie’s Tuesday Talk Question: I’d love to talk about or gain wisdom about serving leaders. Especially when they are the leader we someday want to be. An example: David serving King Saul as his armor bearer/ harp player.
Angela’s Question for Katie: Katie! Great idea. I was just listening to the story of David and Saul on my Daily Audio Bible yesterday!! Question for you: If you had to describe the service of leaders in three words, what would those words be?
Katie’s Response: Loyalty, perseverance, faithful. Loyalty to God and to your leader. Perseverance to push through even when you’ve been anointed but your appointment is far off. David waited 22 years between the time he was anointed by Samuel and when he was king over all Israel. Faithful to waiting upon God, faithful to serve even when the task is difficult and faithful to give it your all when you are in the waiting stage.
Today’s reading: The story of David and Saul – 1 Samuel 16:1 – 31:13
Theologians call this section of scripture “The Rise of Faithful David”.
What Katie identified in the conversation we had above about today’s Tuesday Talk Question is that it may be easier to answer than it is to live out. It will be interested to hear what you think!
David was an example of a leader who was loyal, who persevered and was faithful in the anonymous years of service to King Saul.
Tuesday Talk is a conversation so I will not give away the entire storyline. But to get the ball rolling, here is a re-cap of David’s service to King Saul and some of my personal thoughts.
In chapter 16, David is the unlikely choice as the anointed King. But from the moment he was anointed, scripture says that David was empowered by the Spirit (1 Samuel 16:1-23). David began his service to King Saul as the “soother of Saul’s soul” by playing music. David went on to win the battle with Goliath and win many battles for Saul’s Kingdom. It was this success under the hand of the Lord than led Saul into a jealous rage with the intent of killing David. But David stayed loyal to King Saul and faithful to his God. Even when David had the opportunity (on two accounts – 1 Samuel 24 & 26) to save his own life and kill Saul, David refrained. David honored that it was God who had placed Saul in the position of King and that it would be God who promoted David when it was his time.
In his anonymous years, David was led in wisdom and power by the Spirit of God, not by the recognition or promotion of man. David was not qualified to be king by pedigree, by education or talent. David was obedient to use the strengths, gifts, and talents the Lord had given him when the Lord commanded. David honored those that God put in authority over him. He served them as well as learned from them. David waited, he persevered, and he was faithful to the work that the Lord gave him.
Another aspect of this story that cannot be denied is the relationship between David and Jonathan. Jonathan was one of Saul’s three sons. First Samuel 18 tells us that Jonathan loved David and enter into a covenant of loyalty with him. This story is significant to me in this conversation today. Through his birthright, Jonathan was next in line for the throne and could have demanded that David serve him. But Jonathan understood that David was God’s anointed for the throne and humbled himself to serve David.
When I read the story of Jonathan and David today, I was reminded of the example of leadership given to us at the last supper by Jesus when he took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist to wash the feet of his disciples (John 13). Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:15-17 NIV).
The “master” that Jesus speaks about is God. Every leader’s master is God. God is the one who has sent you, positioned you, and he is the one who will promote you if you walk faithfully with Him. As leaders we must remember that there is someone that God will or has already anointed to take our place or walk beside us in ministry. Ministry was never meant to happen alone. Jesus gave us the example of humble servant leadership and that is what we should follow regardless of if we are in our anonymous years like David was in the story of Saul or if it is time for us to take the throne.
TALK TUESDAY QUESTIONS:
1) What did you learn about God from the story of David and Saul or David and Jonathan today?
2) What did you learn about yourself through this story?
3) What actions do you hear God prompting you to take today?
4) What thoughts about humble servant leadership do you want to share with your TALK TUESDAY Community?
Other resources on living the anonymous years of leadership:
My favorite book on the subject:
Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years…and yours
Other great blogs you might like:
Katie Rogers
May 27, 2014You laid out some great points that I’ve pondered and even discussed over the years but had set on the shelf.
David and Jonathan weren’t just friends they entered into a covenant. Jonathan could have expected things to be different but he submitted to God’s will. He knew David was anointed and going to be used to be the next King. He wasn’t jealous or angry, he loved and believed for David. There will be times we think we will be entitled to something but we’ll have to surrender to God and another. And we will be blessed because we did.
For ten years now I’ve been serving those whose place someday I know I’ll be in. Like David I knew it wasn’t going to happen over night, I have been given the pleasure of serving and learning from them. So when the time comes down the road I’ll be equipped and prepared for the role.
I have seen many women before me understand the concept of serving while they wait upon the Lord. Each of them I’ve talked to said at moments jealousy crept in but when they were submitted to God and humble the years spent serving were moments they’d never give up.
I pray that I and so many others will be excited about the journey God places us on and have the attitude of David while we’re on it.