David’s Secret
2 Samuel 5:1–10
David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. 2 Samuel 5:10

David’s secret of success was that he kept his eyes on the Lord. David looked to the Lord and obeyed.

Let me illustrate this by a story. One summer, when I was just a boy, my family and I were in California with Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse on one of the Eternity magazine tours. In the course of the tour, a day came when we were free from other activities. So a number of us went to an amusement park. In this amusement park there was a very large barrel, about seven feet in diameter and about thirty feet long. It lay on its side and revolved. The challenge was to walk through this barrel without falling down and tumbling about in the bottom. This was a challenge to us all, but it was particularly a challenge to Dr. Barnhouse. He started in. He was in about two or three yards when his feet began to get higher than his center of gravity and down he went. There he was, rolling around in the bottom of this barrel.

The man who ran the barrel, and who sat at a little desk at one end of it, shut the barrel off, and Dr. Barnhouse came out again. He was very upset that he had not made it to the other end. So he said, “I’m going to do it again. Start it up.” The man who controlled the barrel said, “Wait a minute. First, you should know that there is a secret for walking through the barrel. Do you see that mirror at the other end of the barrel?” “Yes.” “What do you see in the mirror?” “I see you,” Dr. Barnhouse replied. “That’s right,” the operator said, “you see me. Now this time, when you start through the barrel, forget that the barrel is turning, and instead of looking at the barrel, look at me in the mirror. That will give you a true sense of the vertical. And you will be able to adjust your steps and keep from falling.” So the barrel was started. And this time, Dr. Barnhouse and all the rest of us walked through triumphantly.

What was the secret? The secret was in keeping our eye on the man in the mirror who ran the barrel. You already see the point of the story. Who is it who runs the affairs of this life with all its ups and downs, crises, joys, and disappointments that we all experience? The answer is God! Who has it all under control? God! How, then, is the Christian to get through the affairs of this life without losing his balance spiritually? By keeping his eyes on God!

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.