In 1 Samuel 17, two verses show David’s responsibility for what was entrusted to his care. By this point, God had already anointed David as the next king through Samuel, though David was still a young boy, and Saul was still the king.
Chapter 17 tells of the famous encounter with Goliath. As Israel prepared to face the Philistines, Jesse, David’s father, was too old to go to war himself. He had already sent David’s three oldest brothers to the battlefield, and now he sent David too, to check on them and bring word of their welfare.
In 1 Samuel 17:20, we read: “So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him.”
David set off for the Israelite camp carrying food for his brothers and cheese for their commanding officer. When he arrived at the camp, before he even went looking for his brothers, he made sure his supplies were secured. Verse 22 tells us: “And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.”
Even with all these significant events unfolding around him, David still took care of what had been entrusted to him. He made sure the sheep he shepherded were cared for, and that the things he’d brought from home were kept safe.
Too often, we get so distracted by the storms around us that we forget to care for the people and tasks we’re responsible for. The big picture matters, and it does demand real time and energy, but that should never be reason enough to neglect the people and things God has placed in our care.
I want to encourage you with one more thing. When I look at the state of humanity, I sometimes wonder if my prayers and petitions even register as a priority to God. There is so much evil in this world. Surely He is kept busy elsewhere.
But let me assure you of this. No matter the circumstance, no matter what’s happening around you, the LORD of hosts never takes His eyes off you.