5 Smooth Stones

has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has de fi ed the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” Taking this course opened the door for David to work more closely with Saul the king. David certainly learned things from king Saul that he used in his own dominion later. It's clear that Saul was not always a willing or a good mentor, but David was able to learn from both the good and the bad. David had opportunity to step into his calling through his own e ff orts, by taking Saul’s life when he had opportunity to take it. Many would have said David was justi fi ed in doing so, even that God had ordained it. But time and again David chose not to promote himself or speed up the process of stepping into his own calling by accepting a premature commissioning. During this time he also received input and mentoring from Samuel the prophet in the ways of the Lord which was bene fi cial to him in the future. It's been said that if the devil can't stop a ministry or calling he will try to promote it prematurely. He did this in the wilderness with Jesus. Having failed to destroy Jesus at his birth, he o ff ered him all the things that Jesus had actually been sent to take, but o ff ered it to Him prematurely in a way not authorized by heaven. Moses also, knowing from his youth that he was saved at birth and called to deliver his people, prematurely a tt empted to do that in an earthly manner, by killing the Egyptian. This then actually delayed his ministry of deliverance.

Proverbs 20:21 “ An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not

be blessed at the end.”

Not only was David diligent to take the anointing he received and immediately put it to work in the place where he already was set, but he also was patient and did not force his calling or commissioning prematurely, but embraced his time of preparation, allowing himself to be re fi ned and prepared for his day of full commissioning.

Hebrews 6:12 “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who

through faith and patience inherit the promises.” 20