I Samuel 17:17
“Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.”
Much was the same for David. He was at home tending to the sheep, while his brothers were at the battlefront. They had been there for 40 days. They were locked in a difficult place. David's mind was on his responsibilities. This day his father asks him to pause his activities and run a care package to his brothers.
This was probably exciting for David. There's a break in his routine. Great. Someone else gets to watch the sheep while David gets to take a trip to his brothers and the battlefront.
We aren't told about David's mindset in terms of what happened a few weeks (or months) earlier and David being anointed to be the future king. His chores didn't change, nor did his role as the little brother. Much like Mary pondered "these things in her heart", so David was probably curious what those things meant and when they would be realized.
The Lord has plans for us as well. Like David, He may have given us a hint or a vision what things may be. Sometimes we try to engineer circumstances to make things happen. God may honor that, but other times He asks us to be patient. Abraham and Sarah were told they would have a child. They waited, but nothing happened. So they attempted to have a child with Hagar, Sarah's maid. It worked, but God didn't honor it.
While a beautiful child was conceived, these descendants would become Israel's enemies. Our efforts could end up hurting us. We have to be careful with some of our efforts. If they are outside of His will, they won't be blessed. David was patient with his life stage. We have no evidence that he tried to force himself into his kingly role. Quite the opposite. He had two opportunities to kill Saul. This would have done it. However, he wasn't comfortable in doing so. He allowed his conscience to regulate his behavior. The right thing tamped down any opportunism in him.
We have no hint in scripture that David was hopeful about this day. It just seemed like a fun diversion from his regular duties. This day would change things forever for him. He would become a forever hero to his people and part of lore for all peoples.
The good lesson we learn is that he was faithful in the small things. He wasn't sending forth a delegation to work things in his favor. He was doing what he was told.
We can learn much from David. We need to tend to our daily tasks with a good attitude and a grateful heart. We don't need to worry about working things in our favor.
Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift makes room for him And brings him before great men." As we do our daily tasks to the best of our ability, the Lord uses that.
Paul gives great advice in I Timothy 6:6, "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment." David was comfortable with his life as he joyfully tended to his duties. It just so happens this day would launch him to become a public figure.
Lord, thank You that you engineer the circumstances in our lives. Sometimes there are big things, usually not. Help us to be content and trusting every step of the way.