Warriors Arise: August 29, 2022
1 Samuel 18:5 (NKJV) So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
We all want to be accepted, but naturally we all want to have a choice. We want to decid if we accept someone or not. We want to know what the person is like. We want to know if we think they can do the job or have the skill, wisdom, and fortitude. If things get tough, are they going to stick around? Are they capable? Can I count on them? These are questions that roll around in our head whenever there is a change. We have to make ourselves trust the person in charge. That can be so difficult.
It isn't like David was promoted or positioned without cause. David had killed the giant and it wasn't a lucky throw. It was dead on. It caused the giant to fall and David didn't run away or call the army to come. David ran to the giant and took his sword and severed his head from his body. There are times when we actually see the act of courage, yet we do not want to give it the full weight of what it took to accomplish the task. There is a reason these men, the men of war accepted David. They had seen David respond immediately to the threats of the Philistine. They had heard him ask what would be done for the man who kills the Philistine. They saw him be ushered from the midst of the group and take to Saul. The next thing they know, he is walking through camp on a mission. He doesn't stop to talk to anyone.
Someone might actually notice him walking through the camp but then he heads to the brook. At that point, I would think they lost interest. But then, someone spots David walking onto the battle field. "Hey, look! There is that kid, the one who said he would fight the giant!" Then all of the men of war jockey for a spot to watch. As they are getting sight of David, they hear his voice shout across the battlefield to the Philistine.
The men of war would have seen this. They would have no idea if Saul had sent David, but there he was. When Saul placed David over the men of war, there might have been some grumbling, but I am pretty sure no one wanted to voice their objection. Everyone of them had a chance for forty days to face the Philistine and they didn't. Then this youth, steps onto the battlefield and fights not as a youth or a man of war, he fights as a child of God. These men had no idea how to fight as God's child.
David wasn't given the position. He earned it. He didn't have to fight the number one man of war, he already defeated the number one man of war in their enemy's camp. David had played a trump card and won all. He won favor with Saul, Jonathan and the men of war. When being assigned a position as leading the men of war, there would need to be an example of one's capabilities. David had been on display for all of heaven and earth to see. He didn't have to prove himself. He didn't have to give his credentials, because they already knew them.
It is always good to have earned the credentials before we are assigned a position that would need them. David wasn't out to earn a position. This is what is priceless about his example. He didn't kill the Philistine, because he was seeking a position. He killed the Philistine, because he was taking the battle to the enemy who was defying God and the armies of Israel.
1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NKJV) Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands.”
David wasn't just picking one battle, he was starting a war. When he says, "For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands" he was definitely giving verbal notice to all the Philistines and letting his countrymen know they had better be ready to fight.
David was accepted because he was trusting God and calling everyone else to step into their purpose. They were men of war and it was time to fight. They accepted David, because he trusted God. He got the ball rolling away from them instead of over them and he restored their dignity. He fought the battle by himself (with God), but he didn't fight the war by himself. He called them into action. He called them into their purpose. David was accepted, because he knew how to honor God and people.
Father, this concept. I am accepted not just by my own merit, but I am accepted when I follow You and restore honor to others. I am accepted when I agree to live my life for You, out loud so others can see. It wasn't about everyone seeing David; it was about Who he represented. He followed God. He put God first. He didn't try to do this on his own. He didn't bad mouth those who didn't take the challenge. I want to be a person who follows You ,even if I have to fight the giant. I want to then call for others to engage in their God given purpose. I am not alone. You are with me and there are so many more who need to be included so we take back this land and establish Your presence here. I will honor You and restore honor to others in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
Comments