In 1 Chronicles 14, we read that King Hiram sent messengers and goods to David..and David perceived that God had established him as king over all Israel since his kingdom was greatly exalted.

Was it the goods that made David understand his kingdom had been established by God, or was it the messengers? Maybe it was the very fact that King Hiram sent something to David that convinced him that God had established his kingdom. What was it that David was able to perceive that God had established his kingdom over all Israel?

Lets take a sneak-peek into David's past.

David was a shepherd. You know what a shepherd is, I'm sure. A shepherd takes care of sheep. Yes, he tends the sheep of his master. He takes them out to pasture. He rubs oil on them to keep them from fleas. He also saves them from attacks of wolves and the like. That was David's job. Hardly a description for a king..!! Even Samuel was mistaken when God sent him to the house of Jesse to anoint the king of Israel after Saul. God told him, that he must not look at the outer appearance of the brothers of David, who were certainly good looking and mighty, but to look at the heart, for that is how God judges man. Not looks, but the heart. That's what counts in the eyes of God.

Ok, so David was soooo insignificant in his father's household, that even when the great prophet Samuel arrived and summoned the sonds of Jesse, Jesse didn't even bother to call David. Now, that's pitiful. And when David arrived, I must say he wouldn't have been a pretty sight! Probably all dirty from a day out in the sun and tending the sheep. Probably also smelling like the sheep... However, it pleased God to anoint that man as next king over Israel. I must say, I'm convinced - "God's thoughts are not my thoughts and God's ways are not my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than my ways, and His thoughts higher than my thoughts." [derived from Isaiah 55:9,10]

Anyway, moving on from there, David was promoted from a shepherd to a musician! He was given the task of playing music, so that the tormenting spirit that troubled Saul would leave. Furthermore, from there, he was in the "WANTED" list of Saul.

But being in the deplorable state that he was in, God still blessed him with an army, that is actually called to be like "the army of God" in my Bible! Surely, as time went by, David finally did PERCEIVE, that God had established His kingdom over all Israel, since his kingdom was higly exalted.

I am stressing on the word "perceived" again and again, because, we often look at our circumstances, and try to "perceive" what God is doing in our lives, or where He's takins us, and what He wants from us.

I just want to tell you, that its good to read from our circumstances, but its also necessary to take into account EVERYTHING that has happened in your life till now before we draw conculsions. Surely David has more than enough evidence that God had established him.

You see, we can be sincere but we can be sincerely mistaken as well! And it is dangerous to draw wrong conclusions and fall. True, God gives us a second and a third and a fourth... and a billionth chance. But why waste time?

You see, just being after God's own heart doesn't mean we're always right. Even being a prophet of God doesn't mean we're always right.
Yes I'm talking about the incident where David, the man after God's own heart decided to make a house of cedar for God. A prophet of God, Nathan was also pleased and asked David to go ahead. Both were mistaken. It was not the will of God that David should build a house for God. Rather God wanted Solomon to build Him a house.

Friends, its VITAL that you listen to God. The time is near, and there's much to do. We all fall and fail Him as well. Its ok. Get up and get going again. But don't take anything for granted. Trust Him, and listen to Him for the littlest things. May you fulfill what God has called you for, that you may be able to say " I have run my race.I am waiting for my reward in heaven" as Paul said. May you find Father God standing with His arms open wide saying ."Well done thou good and faithful servant!"

You see, those who ask of Him and enquire Him for their lives... are established by God. We can see in the following verses [8-17] that David asked of God for both the attacks on the Philistines. He was not complascent after the first victory. Neither did he start the second attack till he heard the marching sound on the top of the mulberry trees. Oh, I wish I could experience what David did that day! The army of God marching ahead of him...preparing the victory for His servant!

As we can see, David was established over all Israel, and in verse 17, we see that David was feared among all the nations!
God wil use those who ask Him to, and they wil bring His knowledge in all the nations.