Warriors Arise: June 19, 2022
1 Samuel 17:1-15 (NKJV) Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
David was with King Saul, where the battle lines were drawn. What would have made him leave? Especially, when we find out later that David becomes a warrior known to kill his 10,000's. Most people who become warriors are drawn to it. What I mean by that is, they seem to play as little children with army characters, a few years later and they are staging battles with their friends. In their teen years, they may be learning to shoot a gun or play paint ball. So, David becoming this warrior who kills his 10,000's, returns to the sheep instead of staying at battle lines. He had a reason to stay. King Saul could need him at any time. Instead, he leaves and goes back to his sheep. Why is that?
John 10:11-14 (NKJV) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
Do you have sheep/people, you have discipled or brought up in the Lord? Do you continue to keep in touch with them? Do they know you continue to care for them, check in on them, cheer for them, protect them, guide them, when needed? Do you return to invest in them? David was good as a warrior, but he loved to shepherd.
Father, I want to follow you but there are times when I need to be a shepherd of Your flock. I want to be faithful to position myself in there darkenst hour to watch over them as You do.I want to take them to green pastures where they are provided for. I want to carry a staff to pull them up out of the cliff they have fallen on. I want to carry a rod to give a solid wack to the enemy who tries to steal them away. I want to lead them by still waters where Your word will nourish and refresh them. I will return and spend time with those I have had the privilege to shepherd and disciple in Your word. I will walk with You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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