Warriors Arise: August 30, 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.
Diving into one of the reasons David was accepted by Jonathan, the men of war, the people and the servants. His heart was pure. He came into Saul's service with the purpose to serve. He did not come in trying to create a coup. He first served Saul in a hidden capacity. No one would know why he was there. It would only be the ones who recognized when the distressing spirit came upon Saul. They couldn't do anything for Saul, but one servant knew of David.
1 Samuel 16:16-18 (NKJV) Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”
Most of us do not want to start at the bottom, especially if we have been anointed to be king. David was anointed to be the next king of Israel prior to being brought into Saul's service to provide relief from the distressing spirit that tormented him. What a position to be in! Could you imagine having a word from God what you future was to be and then serving the one who is in your position? Could be pretty cool if we have the heart to serve and learn. Could be detrimental if we have the "gimmies." Gimme, gimme, gimme now! Thankfully, David did not have that. He was there to follow the doors God would open for him and trust God to follow through with His word in His time. At this point in his life, he would have been a servant in Saul's house. A pure heart will serve others in the position God has given them.
When Saul and his army went to face the Philsitnes, David went with them but was also allowed to return to his flock of sheep. They knew where to find him. David's dad sent him to check on his brothers who volunteered to go serve Saul at this battle. But the entire army is stricken with fear. When David arrives, he hears the threats, taunting and blasphemous words of the Philsitne. It lights a fire within him that someone would have the audacity to talk about his God and His army that way. A pure heart will not allow the enemy to continue speaking lies. A pure heart will not only take a stand against the lies, but with God's direction, will shut the mouth of the liar and pursue the enemy to get off what God has given.
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.”
The unexpected happens. David was operating in a pure heart when he served Saul and ministered to remove the distressing spirit. David was operating in a pure heart as he was indignant toward the Philistine, was challenging Saul, and the Lord's army. David killed the Philistine and with the Israelite army, he continued to pursue the rest of the Philistines. Now, the unexpected, the king's son makes a covenant of brotherhood with David. Jonathan sees the pure heart. He recognizes it because he too has trusted God in battle and had victory over an entire Philistine garrison. David's pure heart served Saul, Jonathan, the men of war by calling them to pursue the Philistines off of their land. David's pure heart is revealed again when he went out wherever Saul sent him.
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.
This may be the single most clear revelation of David's pure heart. It is easy to act in purity toward someone who is perfect, such as God or someone who has set you up for promotion like the servants who had David brought in to minister to the Lord in Saul's presence to get rid of the distressing spirit. But it is challenging to have a pure heart toward someone when you know their faults. Our heart is not revealed in the easy; it is revealed in the challenge. David knew Saul's faults. He knew of the distressing spirit. He knew Saul was about pleasing the people and not God. He knew Saul did not take a stand for God. He knew Saul did not obey God. He knew Saul nearly killed Jonathan, his son. He knew Saul did not operate in mercy. Even thought God did not kill Saul for disobeying him, Saul was going to kill Jonathan for disobeying an order that he didn't know about. David knew the ugly of Saul. Yet, David still served Saul. David lived with a pure heart.
Father, there have been times when I despise knowing the ugly of someone in authority over me. I allowed their sin or lack of concern for Your ways to taint my response and my work. I ask for my heart to be purified. I know that means I will have to walk through your refining fire. I will have to allow myself to give up the yuck I know. I will no longer hold them captive for their sin or lack of honor toward You. I will submit and serve them. I want my heart to be pure. I want my thoughts to be pure. I want my actions to be pure. I want to be clean in my thoughts, actions and all I do. You are my King and I will serve You with a pure heart 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