The Way Of The Warrior
In our last devotional we reacquainted ourselves with the fact, the Lord is flat-out in love with us, and is totally sold-out to us, with an eternal love. This is the anchor, that gives us assurance that whatever we experience has been passed through the sieve of the Lord’s unquestioned value of us. If we are his, then he is on our side, and he allows challenges because he has a greater mission for us. He is not pummeling us, because he’s ticked off. Rather, he is putting us into the deep end of the pool, because he’s building character into us, or he is using us to accomplish a mission, or both.
King David of the Old Testament is a good example. He is one of the great icons of the Bible: David the son of Jesse a man after my heart (Acts 13:22 ESV). David pursued the Lord. David was one of the great warriors of human history, who was to be the patron of great kings of Israel, including Jesus.
Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matt. 20:30 ESV).
In our recent devotions, we noted the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6). David came sometime after that era, but he had a direct connection to someone who was instrumental in that battle. Was he related to Joshua? No. To any armed men, who fought? No. How about some of those hard-edged, priests who led the march around the city? No.
David was a direct descendant of Rahab the harlot! Huh? What was God thinking? The greatest godly, warrior/king in Jewish history is a descendant of a prostitute? Well, Jesus is too then! Yep.
Hold on to your hat. Remember, the Lord redeems your past, and he is not afraid to reward you with glorious blessings. The Lord was not ashamed of Rahab, he was delighted in her, and gave her a glorious legacy! Her past was forgiven, and her life was memorialized because of her faith.
Want proof?
The book of Matthew begins the New Testament with a genealogy. This gives the bona fides of the heritage of Jesus, providing proof, that he had impeccable credentials to be the King of Israel. This genealogy, has a stunning variance with tradition, and included women in his lineage. The women involved do not have great pedigrees, but Matthew does not exclude them, because of their failures and faults, rather he includes them because of their faith.
And Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. (Matt. 1:5, 6 ESV). Two women in one verse: Rahab a prostitute, and Ruth an immigrant from Moab – Israel’s enemy. Not auspicious from mankind’s viewpoint, but perfectly in keeping with a God who is inclusive, and who values people of faith. These women of faith are honored by having the privilege of being in the heritage of the Messiah.
So why are we going to look at David?
He was a man of faith, who came from a warrior mindset and tradition — like us. We can learn some lessons from his life, that will help us mature and grow in faith. David was not born a super-hero. He matured into a deeply devoted man of faith, who had the privilege of fighting and defeating enemies of his people. Through David, the people could also experience the blessings of a God, who sought the best for his chosen people. People need to see the reality of spiritual life, lived out, to be able to appropriate it themselves.
David’s story begins like other great people of faith, the Lord pursued him. God chases us down. David’s story began very humbly, he was the youngest of eight boys, and he got the job of taking care of the family’s livestock – sheep. This was a thankless job, taking one into the pastures, where you got to sleep with the herds. No nice cozy bed. You fed and watered the herd, and protected them, since they were prey animals, unable to fend for themselves. Sheep complained, about whatever issue, was bothering them, bleating and carrying on. The 23rd Psalm indicates that we are like, drama-queen sheep, griping, and demanding, never being satisfied, yet the Lord, with care, ministers to us.
Saul, was Israel’s first king. The people chose him as their ruler, and was a miserable failure. The Lord had warned them of this possibility, but the Israelites, wanted to be like other nations and have a royal class. Careful, sometimes the Lord lets you have your way.
The Lord directed Samuel the prophet to visit David’s father house. The Lord had chosen one of his boys to be the next king. Samuel was to anoint him as king. Well, Saul would not like that, and any one chosen would be at risk. This was not an enviable situation.
Samuel begins to look at Jesse’s sons, and they are fine looking men, Hollywood good looks, and superior athletes. Samuel is impressed, but the Lord warns; “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7 ESV). The next king, was going to be a person of character. David was brought in and was a bingo! A shepherd, was going to be king!
The Lord is revolutionary! He breaks with conventional ideas, and implements creative ways to deal with situations. He goes to the humble, to those without pedigree to change the course of nations. Few of the cultural elites get tapped on the shoulder by the Lord to jump into challenging situations and times. They have not been properly trained. They may be educated, and people of prosperity, or have great intellect, but they have not been trained by the Lord, to be people of character, who can change history.
The Lord took Joseph, a prisoner in Egypt, to become a leader who saved the country from starvation. Or a Daniel a hostage in Babylon, to become a leader who changed history. Or an Esther, an orphan, to become wife of the king: who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces. (Est. 1:1 ESV). God is not limited, and will use people of spiritual maturity to change the course of history. Will he use you? Count on it. He used David a shepherd to change history.
The Warrior’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, give us the courage to trust in your love. Give us the wisdom to know that you call us with a divine calling. Assure us, that you want us to pursue the path that directs us. Let our trust be your legacy to a world that is lost and languishing. We appeal, that when people watch us, they see you. These things can only be generated by you, and not by our means or plans. Bring us into deeper truth, so we are quicker to realize that you are directing us into troubled waters, for your glory.
Never allow us to wander from you and your path. Prohibit us from desiring that which is worthless or destructive. Help us aspire to be people of godly character, who value our family above ourselves. Help us to be faithful servants, sacrificially giving to our family, friends and community, so they can get a glimpse of the God of glory. We want you to be made much of, and to receive honor that is due to you. Help us to be thrilled when others get a glimpse of the reality of spiritual life and maturity, and then to be satisfied that their future is in your hands. We give up, trying to please men, and desire full-bore faithfulness to you, wanting to experience you being valued, as worthy.
We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.