The Way Of The Warrior
In our last devotional, we began to look at David’s encounter with Goliath. David had been anointed king (1 Samuel 16), but was still humbly a shepherd. No bells, whistles or parades for him. His big moment of being named a future king was lost in the dustbin.
None the less, he was still faithful to perform his duties. He was bringing food to the Israeli army at Ephes-dammim or, ‘Border of Blood.’ (1 Sam. 17:1 ESV). His older brother, Eliab was a verbal brute, insulting him and dismissing his occupation as a shepherd (17:28). David’s notice of Goliath had prompted his brother’s attack, not against Goliath, but against him! David’s first adversary was his own family, not the Philistine thug.
Later in David’s career, his son Absalom led a rebellion against him and nearly overthrew David as king. Paul in the New Testament well said: for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Cor. 16:9 ESV). Believers in the Lord are not immune from verbal abuse, David was a good example.
David ignored Eliab: And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way… (17:30). He defeated Eliab’s ridicule by ignoring him. He did not want to be distracted.
Well, someone brought David to Saul, and David was still confident: And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (17:32). The head of the civil authority of the country gets to hear David’s confidence. What does the Federal government say? And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” (17:33). David’s second adversary was the King. His first adversary was his oldest brother.
“You are not able…”
His brother – you’re not good enough – you’re just a shepherd. His King says – ‘you’re not able.’ Remember 1 Cor 16:9!
Yet, David was still confident: But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” (17:34 – 36).
Now we get a glimpse of how the Lord has been training the young David, before this ruckus with Goliath. The Lord did not give David a soft cushy education, but tough ‘on-the-job’ experiences. Not just one threat, but two different instances of ferocious wild animals, a lion, then a bear, taking an insignificant lamb, and David would have none of it.
Most shepherds would have settled for the loss of a lamb, as opposed to their own well-being – but not David. He was a rugged hombre: I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
God does not give David a soft desk job, in order to make him a king. He trains his followers to be the real-deal. Don’t be shocked if the Lord puts on your plate, some challenges that make your hair stand on end.
Are you beginning to feel sorry for Goliath? Goliath is going to be in over his head!
David was not resting on his talents, or his physical attributes. David was relying on the Lord of the Universe, to help him with this overwhelming task. David was sure that he was in the middle of the Lord’s care, and he was not acting out of false bravado. He was not being neglectful of the true nature of his being, rather he was depending on the providence of the Lord, the absolute surety of the God’s ability to help with the impossible.
Goliath is going to be a speed bump.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13 ESV)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Rom. 8:37 ESV)
The Warrior’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. Help me to know your call on my life, and be aligned with it, making your call my mission. Give me the courage to pursue this call with a purpose that only you can give. My strength is too small, my attempts too feeble, to fulfill so great a mission as you have outlined. It is only with your vision, and your power that you use me for your will.
Give me the courage like you gave David. Give me the vision like you gave David. Give me the humility that David exhibited. Give me the faithfulness in you, trusting you to chart my way. May you prepare others to hear your call. If you desire that others see me as your instrument, then protect me from foolish choices. Do not let my desires, short circuit your goals. Give me the purity, that is so pleasant, that I want nothing else. Protect me from foolish passions, that attract me, so I can be your witness to a decaying world. Let the world have hope because they see you in me — hence they want you. My desire, is for you to be seen, and valued. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.