“Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. 21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” 1 Samuel 16.19-23
I often refer to the staff in the ministry where I serve as “the talent.” I realize we all have talents, but there are some I don’t necessarily share yet deeply admire—intellectually gifted theologians, naturally equipped teachers and preachers, and musically endowed worship leaders are just three examples on my list. It is my joy to help manage the talent. And while I recognize that management itself is a talent, from my perspective, it makes sense.
David, the son of Jesse, was “the talent” because he had a gift that was significant to the king. King Saul was deeply troubled spiritually and, most likely, mentally—much of it due to his own choices. To help him cope with the torment of an evil spirit and the failings of his kingdom, he conducted what we might consider an “American Idol” search. And he found David.
Little did Saul know that David would one day replace him as king. For now, however, David was a soothing, gifted, and pleasant musical talent who was also a worship leader and a man after God’s own heart. When an evil spirit came upon Saul, David would “take up his lyre”—think small harp—and play. This gift would bring spiritual relief to Saul, and the evil spirit would leave him.
Much could be said about the absence of God’s Spirit in Saul’s life and the allowance for an evil spirit to creep in, but my focus here is on “the talent,” David. He was a man gifted by God to offer grace to a wayward king, to bless the Kingdom of Israel, and to glorify God.
I’m not yet ready to delve into the spiritual gifts or the 1 Corinthians 12 analogy of the body of Christ, but it’s clear that what David had been given, he used. What God had blessed him with, he utilized—for God’s glory and to serve an earthly ruler. I believe the origin of all gifts and talents is God Himself.
As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Therefore, whatever you have been given, use it for God.
If it is singing, then sing. If it is preaching, then preach. If it is dentistry, lawyering, teaching, painting, or sports—do whatever you do for God’s glory. For God has placed His talent in you so that you might give Him all the glory and bless the world along the way.
“O Lord God, thank You for the talents You have given each of us. Thank You for allowing us to experience Your power and see Your grace abound in our lives. Thank You for being the source of all talent and for filling us with Your Holy Spirit. Come now, Lord God, and draw us to Your throne. Keep us steadfast and holy, faithful and true, so that the world might know Your goodness. Amen.