The king’s servant – there is an eye watching you.
Every human seeks and deserves some level of privacy; we’re livid when we hear of Cambridge Analytica or that Facebook sold our data to third parties.
We want to subscribe to our favourite newsletters but not reveal our identity; we want to be on Netflix but not with details that show our correct names; we want to follow an interesting youtube channel but not subscribe;
We browse in incognito because we fear that the websites will see our details; we use VPN to hide our location and we read blogs without subscribing because you don’t want Cabiojinia to know that we were here. In fact, in marriage, people still demand some private space from their spouse and children.
Whatever it is, humans want to protect their data and keep their identity secret from the public eye. I don’t know how far we’ve succeeded with that seeing that we always leave a trace whether offline or online – there’s always something that gives us up as we try to cover up.
So, it’s understandable that the above title could have elicited different responses in different people: It could be a feeling of fear – “someone is watching me.” A feeling of security – “It’s nice to know that someone is watching over me as I go about my day.” A feeling of hope and reassurance – “I know that someone is observing the efforts I’m putting in.” A feeling of curiosity – “Who is this eye and why is he or she watching me?”
Whatever the response may be, I want you to pause and observe for a moment the book of 1 Samuel 16:14-18. King Saul has been rejected by God after he disobeyed the command to kill every living thing in Amalek. Saul lost the Spirit of God and was tormented by an evil spirit.
While this happened, Saul’s servants advised him to get a young man who can play instruments, so that with the sound of the harp, the evil spirit could be driven out each time it manifested. It was at this point that one of the King’s servants made a recommendation.
“Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlemite,” he said, “that is cunning in playing” he continues, “a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with Him,” he concluded.
Although this recommendation may seem to be chronologically incorrect (seeing that David defeated Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 and so was still ‘obscured’ from the public eye), I want you to focus on the fact that this servant knew David so much as to give detailed descriptions of him. Where, when and how this man was able to observe David isn’t written. But he did.
There are king’s servants everywhere: online, offline, in your workplace, on the streets of your city, in the Church, outside the Church, and even in your secret place. And they’re observing, taking notes, chronicling your life decisions, your consistency and inconsistency, lies and truths, training and discipline. And someday they’ll make recommendations to the King.
There are certain gates you can’t walk through, some courts you can’t enter, some tables you can’t sit on, some parties you can’t attend without an invitation or a recommendation from one of the king’s servant. There must be someone inside that will ask them to allow you in. To enter there, Saul’s servant that has observed your work in the past has to recommend you.
If I were you, I’ll be like David. I’ll hone my playing skills to become cunning. I’ll be valiant for the right. I’ll war against my enemies and gain victory by God’s grace. I’ll seek prudence (wisdom) in business matters. I’ll work on my body (exercise and healthy eating) and I’ll make God my best friend.
Whatever you do is noted in the courts of heaven and in the realm of man irrespective of how hidden you think it was. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro the earth says the Holy scriptures (2 Chronicles 16:9)
