Warriors Arise: September 18, 2022
1 Samuel 18:10-13 (NKJV) And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul's hand. 11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand
Is this a promotion? Or is this a death sentence? Saul had been sending David out until the women of the town were singing his praises. So he kept him close. That only irritated him more. He couldn't stand to have him around, so he sent him back out. This time he would be over a thousand. I am not sure, but I believe these are two different assignments, being captain over a thousand verses the men of war. The men of war would be the trained men who knew how to fight in combat. Being captain over a thousand, from what I can gather, is over men who are a part of the army, but might not have the weapons and definitely not the training to be in hand to hand combat. This could put David in a difficult situation. He was used to fighting with men next to him who knew how to fight. He could trust their ability to fight and to have his back. It isn't that the thousand didn't have his back, they just didn't all know how to fight. David might accidentally engage in a battle his thousand were not ready to fight. That could be a death sentence, rather than a promotion.
Sometimes being given more responsibility can backfire. Then there are other times it is a set up for God to work even grater miracles through us. David had been trained by Johnathan and his men. David had been in the company of the men of war. No doubt, he had learned lots. Now, it was his turn to pour what he had learned into these men, the thousand he had been given command over. It was his turn to invest everything he had learned from Johnathan. As Jonathan had taught him, he was stepping into those same shoes and teaching others who could have been just like David. They might not have known how to swing a sword, jab with a dagger, throw a spear, shoot an arrow, but they knew how to use a shepherd's staff, a sling and stones.
David could have lamented or despaired over the fact that he was not sent back to the men of war. His training would not continue with Johnathan. Instead, he embraced his assignment and became their captain.
You and I can feel like we have been demoted or even that we have been set up to fail, That the new assignment will be the death of us and our dreams. However, we know God isn't trying to kill us. Because God is with us, He will lead us, protect us, and give us wisdom for this new assignment. We have to turn to Him. We have to seek His face and listen to His voice guide and direct us. We have to see that God promoted us even if those who have set themselves up against us have meant to bring harm to our lives. No matter how qualified we are, we are to trust God to position us where we are needed to continue our training with him. David would one day be on the back side of the wilderness having to train the vagabonds of Israel how to battle. He was getting to train for his future right now.
How would you respond differently if you had know that what seemed to be a demotion was really your next step of training for your future self? For the anointing God has on your life?
Father, I submit to You. I know You are for me. I can feel things are going entirely wrong. I can know I haven't done anything wrong but the new thing I am asked to do can feel like such a demotion. I pray I would trust You. You will work things out for my good. You will continue my training. You will get me out of the way of the enemy and send me to a position where I can get first hand training for what You have predestined for me to do, in the future. You have trained me so well and then worked in and through me for the miraculous victory. You have taught me exactly what I needed to know and to do for the battle ahead. I never know when the next battle is coming, but You make sure I am ready. I never know how I need to be trained in order to defeat the enemy in the next battle; but You teach me exactly what I need to learn. I know where the next battle will be; but because You have taken the time to position me and to stretch my abilities, I am ready. I will trust You are positioning me for the skills I need to have to operate in what You have called me to do in the future. I will rise and follow You. I will go and do knowing that You are with me. I will not despise or resist the demotion. I will serve You with all my heart and learn what is necessary for my future in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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