“大卫到了扫罗那里，就侍立在扫罗面前。” - 撒上 16:21

神的灵已经离开了扫罗王、任由他随己意行事了。扫罗的国度是以欺诈、傲慢、和野心建立起来的，他尽己所能，建立了一个以他为王的国度。因此，他的世界容不下神的律例，也没有过圣洁、服从、和群体生活的余地。以色列民应该是明灯，照亮其他国家、引领他们归向神那里。然而，扫罗作王时，这些都没有实现。

撒母耳记上的作者，不希望我们错过了这句重要的话：“大卫到了扫罗那里，就侍立在扫罗面前。”大卫成为以色列民的领袖之前，曾经在一位狂乱和败坏的君王面前侍立。这件事对塑造大卫的一生，有非常深刻的影响。它意味着大卫服侍扫罗王时要讨他的欢心，大卫是没有任何选择的；而当他服侍扫罗时，大卫同时也在尊崇和服事主。主才是大卫所服侍的真正的君王。

今天我们看到大卫在扫罗面前侍立，神藉此告诉祂的子民，祂知道怎样去拣选一位合祂心意的领袖（参看撒母耳记上 13:14; 16:7）。

在我们的生命中，除了那些我们眼前见到的事以外，背后往往有很多其他的事情发生。大卫和其他的人或许看不见，然而神仍在背后作工，为要向我们显明祂的旨意。

祷告

主我的神啊，我要全心全意服侍你。求你帮助我看到你在我生命背后不断作工的大能，又求你引领我忠心为你而活。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。

撒母耳记上 16:14-23

14耶和华的灵离开扫罗，有恶魔从耶和华那里来扰乱他。
15扫罗的臣仆对他说：“现在有恶魔从神那里来扰乱你。
16我们的主可以吩咐面前的臣仆，找一个善于弹琴的来，等神那里来的恶魔临到你身上的时候，使他用手弹琴，你就好了。”
17扫罗对臣仆说：“你们可以为我找一个善于弹琴的，带到我这里来。”
18其中有一个少年人说：“我曾见伯利恒城耶西的一个儿子善于弹琴，是大有勇敢的战士，说话合宜，容貌俊美，耶和华也与他同在。”
19于是扫罗差遣使者去见耶西，说：“请你打发你放羊的儿子大卫到我这里来。”
20耶西就把几个饼和一皮袋酒，并一只山羊羔，都驮在驴上，交给他儿子大卫，送于扫罗。
21大卫到了扫罗那里，就侍立在扫罗面前。扫罗甚喜爱他，他就做了扫罗拿兵器的人。
22扫罗差遣人去见耶西，说：“求你容大卫侍立在我面前，因为他在我眼前蒙了恩。”
23从神那里来的恶魔临到扫罗身上的时候，大卫就拿琴，用手而弹，扫罗便舒畅爽快，恶魔离了他。

In The King’s Service

"David came to Saul and entered his service." - 1 Samuel 16:21

The Spirit of God had departed from King Saul, leaving him to go his own way. Saul had built his world with lies, arrogance, and ambition. He had done everything in his power to build a world where he was king. So there was little room for God’s way and a life of holiness, obedience, and community. Israel was supposed to be a light to other nations, pointing the way to God. But with Saul as king, that did not happen.

The writer of 1 Samuel does not want us to miss these important words: “David came to Saul and entered his service.” David’s transition to leadership in Israel included entering the service of a mad and corrupt king. This would shape David’s life in profound ways. It meant that David would serve at the pleasure of King Saul, and he did not have a choice. Still, as he served Saul, David could honor and serve the Lord, the true King.

Today we can see that David entered into Saul’s service so that God could show his people that he knew how to pick a leader after his own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14; 16:7).

There’s always more going on in life than what we can see in front of us. David and others may not have seen it, but God was working in the background to make his purposes known.

Prayer

Lord God, being in service to you requires my whole heart. Help me to see your ever-working power behind the scenes of my life. Guide me to live faithfully for you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.