“God Prepares a New King” (Wifey Wednesdays S21E2)

January 22, 2025

Host: Emily Hatfield | Released Wednesday, January 22, 2025

On this episode of Wifey Wednesdays, Emily dives back into the Old Testament narrative, this time focusing on the king that God gives to Israel after Saul — a king they did not deserve, but that they needed.

Through God’s selection and preparation of a young shepherd, we are able to see a glimpse into the future King of kings, and find peace and hope in His eternal kingdom.

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Episode Transcript

Hello and welcome to Wifey Wednesdays, a podcast for women who are seeking to be the best wives they can be. I’m your host, Emily Hatfield, and this is the show where the plan is always to do things God’s way, especially our marriages.

We are continuing down the path that we’ve now been on for two seasons, and that is looking at an overview of the Old Testament — seeing what we can learn about Who God is and what He has done for us….and how great it is that He has shown us so much of His plan all throughout Scripture.

Today, we can see especially well how God was providing for His people, when He anoints a new king over Israel – a young shepherd boy named David.

Now, David was likely not the tiny little baby boy we often think of, or see pictured. He was likely in his teens when he is annointed king, but it’s still surprising, seeing as he is the youngest in the family with seven older sons! But, as God told the prophet Samuel when it came to David’s brothers, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

These older brothers are going to show some of this “rejected heart” in the next chapter, 1 Samuel 17, when they are off to battle and David takes them supplies at the request of his father, and they berate him and think poorly of him and judge him falsely. That’s not the type of king God wants them to have, because that’s not a king who has a heart like His. Obviously God would be the best king — He had been — but the people rejected Him. And so, He picks a human with a tender heart to be their next king…and David does a mostly fantastic job.

I think the reason for this is that God had been preparing David. First, we see that he’s a shepherd over his father’s flock. This is exactly the role of the king for God’s people. Someone who will look after them and care for them tenderly – modeling the way that God tenderly and affectionately cares for His own flock. It is David who writes Psalm 23 — the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack anything. David knows about being a shepherd, and he recognizes that God is the ultimate shepherd, guiding and caring and loving each of His sheep.

David is also pretty remarkable in other ways. At the end of 1 Samuel 16, Saul is being tormented because the Spirit of God has left Him. His advisors recommend finding someone who can come and play music for him….and Saul agrees. Well guess who they find? Verse 18 says, “One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.”

So David ends up in the service of King Saul, playing music for him when he’s troubled, even becoming his armor bearer. Here, David is getting an up close view of what it means to be king. It almost feels like an internship. Now, obviously Saul is not in the know about David’s anointing as the next king, but it is interesting that God places David in this position.

But did you notice these characteristics that were mentioned about David? This is why I say he can’t be a small child. He’s called a man of valor, a man of war, a man of good presence. In the next chapter, with Goliath, we see that Saul offers him his own armor to wear to fight this giant. I doubt a king who stands head and shoulders over other people is handing his armor to someone tiny. No, as David will tell the Israelite army in chapter 17, God has been getting him in shape as a shepherd, fighting off lions and bears in the wilderness to keep the flock safe. David is tough, brave, and knows how to fight. He’s also apparently pretty good with a sling shot. But, mostly importantly, He respects and honors God.

When David is approaching Goliath, it’s because of his outrage that someone would defy Almighty God that he volunteers to fight. No one should stand on the sidelines when God’s name is being blasphemed! This level of respect – lack of consideration for his own safety and well-being, but firm trust in who God is — this is what will make a great king. Someone who will not let God’s name be dishonored…someone who will stand up to wickedness….someone who will respect authority (as is seen when David repeatedly refuses to hurt Saul, whom he calls God’s anointed, while he’s on the run because that same Saul is seeking to kill him). This is why David will be a great king.

Not to mention, David is tender hearted. Maybe it’s that musical, poetic side of him. Maybe it’s being the youngest. Was he close to his mom? Who knows. But we do know that David has a heart that can be pricked. When he finds himself engulfed in sin later on in his kingship, and a prophet comes and confronts him about the adultery and murder he’s involved in…David doesn’t throw stones toward anyone else, but says – against God I have sinned. “Create in me a clean heart, O God” he writes in Psalm 51.

David, a mighty man of war, who is tough on wickedness — is also tough on wickedness within himself. He wants to be right with God. He is able to be told by God that he IS wrong — which takes humility, and that’s likely a hard thing for a king of a nation to come by. Could it be that starting out in the fields with the sheep helped him become tender, caring, in touch with his own feelings and thoughts. Could it be that being on the run from Saul for a decade or more humbled him and helped him appreciate the ways God spared his life and looked out for him?

It seems that all along the way, God was preparing David to be a king after His own heart…a king on whose throne a descendant of his would forever reign.

Jesus, son of David, the mighty King of Kings and Lord or Lords, is our perfect shepherd King. He is meek and lowly in heart, but He is also pictured as a great rider on a horse…coming in victory over the enemy. He is a king who will allow no blaspheming against Almighty God, and who will execute justice. He is a king whose heart has been touched with our griefs; a king who is a shepherd and also — a sheep. Silently led to the slaughter for us.

I am so thankful for all of the ways God shows His goodness and faithfulness throughout Scripture. The life of David shows us just that. The people of Israel had already neglected God time and again; they had continually chosen themselves or chosen the nations around them instead of God. But God put their needs first and gave them the king – not that they deserved, but that they needed. A king who would have an offspring that would save them once and for all.

Thanks for being with us today; I hope you’ll join me throughout this season as we continue looking at the Old Testament scriptures and learning about who God is, and praising Him for the goodness and mercy He has continually doled out upon an undeserving people, us included. Thanks again for listening, and until next time remember – love God, love your husband.