Light second purple candle - The Peace Candle
The Last Supper…the Mona Lisa…these timeless artistic masterpieces are perhaps the most famous works of Leonardo da Vinci, a towering figure of the Italian Renaissance, but that is not why he is known as a Renaissance Man. Born in 1452 near Vinci, Italy, da Vinci became not only a renowned artist, but a scientist, inventor and engineer as well. His legacy includes extensive notebooks filled with detailed studies of human anatomy, botany, geology and revolutionary designs for machines such as flying devices, an armored tank, even a parachute!
How in the world could one man be so profoundly gifted and intelligent? Leonardo was what is known as a “polymath” - a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. Characterized by curiosity, continuous learning and the ability to apply knowledge across various fields, polymaths are known for their ability to make connections across different areas of knowledge and solve problems using a wide range of perspectives. Though many of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions remained unrealized during his lifetime, his art and scientific theories remain incredibly influential, cementing his status as one of the greatest and most versatile minds in human history, a Renaissance Man.
In today’s reading, we are introduced to someone I’d like to propose was the Original Renaissance Man. I’m curious to know if you agree.
* Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Not convinced that David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the second king of Israel, qualifies as a Renaissance Man? I completely understand and it seems that his dad and brothers couldn’t see young David’s extraordinary gifts either. I mean, think about it: the famous prophet of God, Samuel, comes to Jesse’s home to share a sacrificial meal. All of Jesse’s sons are there, in their Sunday best. Well, all of the sons except the youngest, David. They didn’t even think to bring David in from the fields to meet the prophet and share in the special meal.
I can imagine his family’s opinions of David - unreliable, always walking around with his head in the clouds, he treats those sheep like they are his pets! He’s a loner, always making music on that lyre of his and the stories he tells about protecting the sheep from wild beasts are the tallest tales in Judah! So when Samuel makes his inspection of all of David’s brothers without receiving the greenlight to anoint any as the future king, he asks Jesse if these are the only sons he has. Of course, Jesse says there is one more. Once David is finally collected, cleaned up, dressed in fresh clothes and presented to Samuel, “the Lord said, ‘Anoint him, for he is the one.’ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.” (vv 12-13)
David was king and a man after God’s own heart from that moment forward. It would require many years of honing his diverse skills as a warrior, musician, poet, leader and intellectual before his head would wear the crown as king over Israel. However, David’s documented life reflects the Renaissance ideal of a well-rounded individual, displaying prowess in military strategy and combat, artistic talents in music and poetry (remember, David is credited with authorship of a multitude of the Psalms), strong leadership in uniting a nation, and of course his deep connection with the Lord God. While certainly not perfect, as we see in that regrettable spring when he chose to stay home rather than lead his troops in battle, resulting in adultery, murder and conspiracy, David lived his life in close communion with the Lord God. From his throne would come the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus the Messiah.
Read these beautiful words penned by Ezra the Ezrahite in Psalm 89:
“The Lord said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant; I will establish your offspring forever and build up your thrones for all generations’”…”You once spoke in a vision to your faithful ones and said, ‘I have granted help to a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found David my servant; I have anointed him with my sacred oil. My hand will always be with him. The enemy will not oppress him; the wicked will not afflict him. I will crush his foes before him and strike those who hate him. My faithfulness and love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.’” (Ps 89:3-4, 19-24)
* Sing O Day of Peace(see page 38 for lyrics
* Reflect
* We only read the introduction to David’s story today. If you’re interested in reading his entire story, take some time to read all of 1 and 2 Samuel. Which of David’s gifts or skills impress you the most?
* In his sermon to the people in Antioch, the Apostle Paul quoted 1 Samuel 13 and preached, “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.” (Acts 13:21-22) Why do you think David is known as “a man after God’s own heart?”
Pray the second verse of O Day of Peace, “May swords of hate fall from our hands, our hearts from envy find release, till by God’s grace our warring world shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace.
Thomas Opphong. “The Da Vinci Principle — Habits of a Brilliant Polymath.” The Habits of a Brilliant Mind. (https://hive.com/blog/da-vinci-principle-polymaths/)
