Reflection
David Was Anointed King Long Before He Became King
When Samuel visited the house of Jesse, David was not even initially brought before him. He was outside tending sheep. Yet David was the person God had chosen. Samuel anointed him: “and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” — 1 Samuel 16:13 (KJV)
But David did not immediately walk into the palace and take the throne.
Between the anointing and the appointment came years of serving, fighting, fleeing Saul, living in caves and waiting.
That's an important biblical pattern.
Being called by God does not necessarily mean immediately arriving at the place associated with that calling.
Sometimes Scripture shows a long period between God's promise and its visible fulfilment.
David's waiting years were not necessarily wasted years. They formed much of the man who would eventually become king.