EPISODE 478 – BE UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN

No one makes a great impact without possessing virtues for greatness.

Being anointed doesn’t automatically bring you to the fulfilment of purpose.

It takes virtue, character with anointing to become relevant in the Kingdom.

Joseph did not just wake up to the fulfilment of his dream. He went through a process where his character and virtue were tested. Those processes established his character and virtue, and that enriched his rule as the Prime Minister of Egypt.

He demonstrated absolute confidence and honor towards God, a heart of servitude, self-control, patience, humility, mastery of his gift, and readiness in season and out of season.

David was also anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be King (1 Samuel 16:1,13).

But David didn’t just rise to the throne. He has to go through a process to prove the consistency of his character.

David was recommended to King Saul, because of his exceptional skill on the harp. He found favor and was privileged to serve the king in the palace. (1 Samuel 16:16-23).

However, David’s rise to serve in the palace did not stop him from being humble towards his father. He occasionally visited his father to run errands for him.

“But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.” 1 Samuel 17:15 (NKJV).

David didn’t think that because he was now serving in the king’s palace and he would soon become the King of Israel, he didn’t have to continue to tend sheep and run errands for his father.

As part of the many excellent virtues David demonstrated, I want us to give attention to this seemingly little but profound quality of exceptionalism.

Let’s read the opening verse in context:

“Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:17-20 (NKJV)

David didn’t hesitate nor procrastinate. He rose early in the morning with a sense of responsibility.

The Message Translation puts it this way:

“David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines moved into position, facing each other, battle-ready”. (1 Samuel 17:20-21)

Now because of David’s promptness, he got the battlefield at the right time (of his destiny).

Many have delayed the plan and purpose of God for their lives because they failed to be prompt with an assignment.

Don’t miss this other little detail as well:

Though David was prompt with his father’s new task, he was attentive to all his responsibilities. He handed over the sheep he was tending to a keeper. The young man David had a sense of responsibility. And was not overwhelmed by his multi-task. You must have a great sense of responsibility to make a difference in your world.

Let this character of exceptionalism be in you; because you are destined for greatness.

Hallelujah!