Skill sets and Defining moments-my thoughts on 1 Samuel 16

SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID
At the time the Lord sent Samuel to anoint David, interesting things happened.............

Google images- David playing to the depressed Saul

•  Saul had a problem with depression that David could fix just by playing skilfully on his harp. When David was learning to play his harp and developed his skill till he gained mastery, he had no prior knowledge that it would one day be the exact medicine that a depressed king would need. This is noteworthy that music has a role to play in shaping our minds.
•  David's appearance was pleasing to Saul: Appearance and presentation matter, our physical body must be groomed and maintained for, sometimes, the Lord has given us our physical appearance so that we will be NOTICED for His purpose in us to fulfil an assignment.(Remember Esther?) 
•  David's skill set met Saul's needs. We read David's C.V in 1 Samuel 16:18     

-skill full with harp
-brave
-warrior
-well spoken
-well presented
-spirit filled

•  Now we see that: The Lord's plan was ALREADY SET to have David be the king. So, he ALLOWED David to get the training he would need.
•  The Lord arranged this: (through what I like to call His 'God'-incidence) He set up an intern-ship, mentoring and a job shadowing programme for David, right at the place where David's key future role was to be.
• He became Saul's armour bearer 
• Remember also Moses? He had his training from birth! Also Joseph? He was sold into slavery and learnt at first hand, his future prime ministerial JD (Job Description)  from being first a slave serving in the home of Potiphar who was The Prime Minister at that time. Wow! These are nothing but 'God-incidences!' ,They just cannot be co-incidences.
• All that had happened to David as outlined above, was a timely set up for what the Lord had already planned; The defeat of the Philistines in general and Goliath in particular, as well as the rest of the works David would do in his lifetime.
• At the appointed time, when David had completed his training, the situation was like this:

Saul had passed his peak as a ruler and leader, the nation was in need of fresh blood in the leadership, the people had reached the height of discouragement due to the Philistine attacks.
Then....
GOD SWITCHED THE GEARS
... Through a chain of 'God'-incidences, the people of Israel were delivered and the brave new king was unveiled!

CONCLUSION:
It is all in the Lord's time that things will happen. Sometimes, it is when our skill sets have been developed as we endure the tough training of the knocks of life, that  a break through  happens. Then and only then will God SWITCH GEARS.

.... And all our 'God'-incidences which may present themselves as challenges, will unfold as defining moments of achievement!

Lara Cookey
Pondering on 1 Samuel 16
17 Nov 2009

Update (19Nov 2009)
Ephesians 1:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

(Further comment 24th Feb 2010)
The purpose of His will is that we are trained up in righteousness so that we can reflect the glory of our maker. We are to be walking, living,breathing examples of the Godly characteristics he deposited in us at our creation.
God looked at himself in us and said 'it is very good' (Genesis 1:31)