Growing in the field

 Psalm 2:1–12 (ESV):

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 

2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 

3  “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 

4  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 

5  Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 

6  “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 

7  I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 

8  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 

9  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 

10  Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 

11  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 

12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 

Even though David himself is a king, he recognises that the fellow rulers ‘of the earth’ are not like him. He knows he has been set apart as ‘Anointed’ not simply by human hands, but by God’s, whereas other kings have, ‘set themselves’ in their position and are against God rather than for Him. So although he shares a common responsibility and power with these men, he knows that he is different as he has been selected and set apart by God to have this role. How David governs is impacted by that. Other kings may have inherited or fought for rulership, David however was set apart many years ago and sealed with the promise of God that he would have such authority. Therefore his vision and values for this kingdom are different than other nations because he knows the place he rules is not solely his, it has been entrusted to him to steward on behalf of God.

The same is true for you. 

If you are a follower of God, then you have been selected and appointed for a role and position in life where you have responsibility. Whatever your situation may be right now, however impressive or unimpressive it is - God has put you there. You may not be living in the position that you have been anointed for yet and you are probably not be set apart to become a king, but you still have a God-given role and responsibility to steward. Remember though that David did not become king overnight. He was not from a royal family and he was the youngest son given the most demeaning job of looking after the sheep. Yet God still set him apart. First he had to live through becoming a skilled shepherd before he became a king. Being a shepherd is not an easy job sitting in the sunshine stroking the fluffy heads of sheep. It was the job of those on the outside of the community; smelly, hard, dangerous work. Shepherds had to be alert, encounter danger and tackle it in sun and rain, day and night. David probably felt alone and overlooked, but he still did his job well. He knew that all sheep had to be accounted for so he took care of the animals; tending wounds, swatting away insects, protecting them from predators and searching out any that were missing. David took his responsibility in the sheep field seriously even though it was dangerous and lonely. He also took the opportunity, as he had lots of time on his own, to develop a close relationship with God. David learnt to communicate with and depend on God whilst he was a left-out lonely shepherd.

Are you using where you are to do the same?

David transferred the relationship and dependency on God he had built from the field of sheep to the field of battle and onto the throne room. David realised he had learnt a lot and his character had been developed in the lonely dirty work of his everyday life. Whatever your everyday life looks like right now, it is a training ground for where you are meant to be. It is an opportunity to develop your skills and invest in your relationship with God because these will be needed for the future God has planned for you. The field you’re in right now is a training ground for what is to come - what are you learning and how are you developing your understanding of God? 

Are you using your time now to prepare for your future? Are you honing your skills, making the best of it and growing in relationship with God?

The reality is, that training isn’t easy and when you attain to the place and position that God has set apart for you, it is not going to be easy then either! David, in this psalm recognises that other leaders are against him, that his enemies are no longer bears or wolves but power-hungry, violent men in charge of armies. Yet he has established a confidence in whom God is. He knows God is the King of all kings. Even though David is clearly encountering opposition at this time, he still is assured that God has appointed him and set him apart, so David is assured that nothing can change God’s plans, no matter how many come against him, David knows those men do not have the authority of heaven on their side, but he does. 

Do you have a confidence and faith like that? One that is not shaken or despondent by others; threats, words or authority? Instead confident in the fact that you have heaven’s backing as a child of God? 

If you’d like to grow more in relationship with God, or even in confidence and capability, then do what David did and spend time learning about God, talking to Him and learning who He says you are. It will prepare you well for the rest of your life.