Hearing His Voice #190

The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me.

2 Samuel 23:2

These are among the last words of David—not David the priest or David the prophet, but David the shepherd-turned-king. The thought that a young son of an ordinary family, looked down on by his brothers, would somehow rise from the shepherd’s path to the royal palace seems too farfetched to be true. But that’s the course David’s life took, demonstrating for us that a heart for God is the only real prerequisite for an extraordinary life. And apparently it qualifies a shepherd to speak God’s words.

That’s the kind of person God chooses to speak through. He doesn’t share His voice exclusively among the religious elite—the seminary-trained ministers of any given era. Yes, He has established a priesthood at times, eventually calling all believers to function as priests toward each other. And yes, He has chosen prophets to carry specific messages at particularly critical times in history. But He has also chosen to speak through shepherds and farmers, warriors and kings, servants and slaves, and even a donkey and a burning bush. We’re told that even stones can cry out in praise of God, so presumably any common vessel is able to bear His messages. All that’s required is a life that is yielded to Him.

David lived such a life, being chosen specifically because he was a man after God’s own heart. If we want the Spirit of the Lord to speak through us, that’s really our first and only requirement—to live with passionate love toward Him, to pursue Him above all other affections. The Spirit of the Lord is more than willing to speak through those in intimate fellowship with Him. In knowing His heart, we are qualified to express it, and He is eager to give us the words to do so.

Spirit of God, David was no more qualified to speak for You than I am, as long as my heart is zealous for You. So cultivate the right heart in me. Draw me close to You and let Your words flow through me.