David O.F.W: Part 2 - Tool Box When God Builds a King

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When God Builds Leaders: Four Essential Tools

God uses specific tools to shape and develop those He calls to leadership. Just as He prepared David to become Israel's greatest king, He continues to use these same instruments to mold His people today.

The Tool of Solitude

In the lonely hills of Judea, watching his father's sheep, David learned vital lessons about being alone with God. Away from life's distractions and noise, he discovered how to hear God's voice and commune with Him intimately. Jesus Himself modeled this practice repeatedly:

• "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out and made his way to a deserted place and there he was praying" (Mark 1:35)
• "During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12)
• "When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself" (John 6:15)

If the Son of God saw the vital necessity of solitude with the Father, how much more do we need these intimate times of communion?

The Tool of Privacy

Before David ever sat on Israel's throne, he spent countless hours alone, unacknowledged and unappreciated. In this classroom of obscurity, he learned:

• Faithfulness when no one was watching
• Obedience and humility
• Watchfulness and attentiveness
• To please God alone rather than seeking human approval

This pattern appears throughout Scripture - God trains His servants privately before using them publicly. Moses spent 40 years tending sheep before leading Israel. Elijah and Elisha had extended seasons of preparation. Even Jesus lived in obscurity before beginning His public ministry (Luke 2:51-52).

The Tool of Monotony

Day blended into day as David performed the routine tasks of shepherding. Through this monotony, he learned crucial lessons about faithfulness in mundane responsibilities. Like the seemingly pointless "wax on, wax off" training in The Karate Kid, these repetitive duties were actually preparation for greater things.

As Jesus taught, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much" (Matthew 25:21). When we remain faithful in life's routine responsibilities, God expands our influence according to His timing and purposes.

The Tool of Struggle

David faced lions, bears, giants, and eventually pursuit from King Saul himself. God used these adversities to teach David about divine power, provision and providence. The furnace of affliction often produces deeper knowledge of God than times of ease.

Throughout Scripture - from the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace to Daniel in the lions' den - God's people learned more about Him through trials than comfort. He prunes us through affliction to bear greater fruit (John 15). Our response to struggles matters more than the struggles themselves.

David's journey culminated in a leader described as "a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him" (1 Samuel 16:18). Through solitude, privacy, monotony and struggle, God shaped a shepherd boy into Israel's greatest king. He continues using these same tools today to develop His people for His purposes.

The key is surrendering to His work rather than resisting it. Though painful at times, these tools in the Master's hands produce something beautiful - people who reflect His character and advance His kingdom.