The Way Of The Warrior
In our last devotional we noted how David experienced some down time, in the home of Samuel, at Naioth (1 Sam 19:18). David’s life had turned into a bizarre, topsy turvy, carnival ride after he had the glorious victory over Goliath, then the megalomaniac King Saul tried to murder him. David was on the run, from Saul, and he landed at a godly man’s home, where he was afforded safety and hospitality.
We also noted, that David had been anointed to be king (1 Sam 16:13). At that time David had a spiritual experience: Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. David was energized by the Holy Spirit, and he was different. The Lord invaded his life, just as we invite God to be Lord of our life. This experience was not generated by David, he became a vessel for the indwelling Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Spirit does not intend to visit, then to leave, for other duties – you are his focus.
You are 100% his. He takes over. That is a good thing. It might be uncomfortable at times, because he is going to prompt you in ways contrary to your old self – but your heart is his home, and he is there to do a major renovation. The new heart/home is going to be transformed like they do on TV shows, old houses getting turned into dazzling mansions. The Lord is going to flip your heart. It is not instantaneous, it is a process. Room by room, even those closets where you got dark things hidden. You will be made new.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Rom. 8:5).
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Rom. 8:11).
Listen, if the Holy Spirit had power to raise Jesus from the dead, he can handle your life. You will cry ‘Uncle’ before he gives up. Go with the flow.
But where does your will come in? Am I just going to be a robot? Is the Holy Spirit like a 4 Star General, and I have to obey every mind-blowing command? Well, kinda. You and the Holy Spirit partner together: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Rom. 12:1). ‘Spiritual’ means, this is totally reasonable and rational.
Guess what? You present yourself. You offer yourself. You volunteer. Just like when you were called into a formation in the military, you presented yourself. You volunteered for whatever the mission was going to be. No one filled in the blanks ahead of time. You came to formation to get your orders. If you did it in the military you can do it, spiritually. You are not the captain of your own soul. Like David, you are the Lord’s – he’s your 5 Star!
Here’s the really good part. The mission the Lord has for you, is way above your pay grade. You don’t qualify for it. But he is going to prepare, and train you to step into a billet you cannot manage by yourself. Now here’s the really, really good part: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. (Rom. 8:26). David was not a superhero. The Spirit turned him into someone far more effective than his own natural ability, as he will with you! Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (Eph. 3:20).
The Spirit will manage things that you have no clue about! For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Rom. 8:26). He’s way ahead of the game, and planning, preparing, and praying for you, for the next things in your life! Just get used to it. You are not in charge, but you get to reap all the benefits! You and the Holy Spirit get to partner together. He is the tightest bro, you have ever had! He’ll never leave you, not for a millisecond!
Back to David in Naioth.
Samuel gave him hospitality. David had a safe place to land. Though, there are no walls, or weapons, or soldiers – it is safe. The Holy Spirit was managing things. Samuel has a place where the Word of God is being proclaimed. It was a gathering place for a ministry conference: “…when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came… (1 Sam. 19:20). Prophesying means to proclaim under the influence of a divine spirit.
Remember, at this time in Biblical history, there were not many books of the Bible. Maybe the first six books [Genesis to Joshua], and probably the book of Job, maybe Ruth, but likely not more, at least not the 66 we have today. This was a formative time, and spiritual revelation was coming in esoteric ways. Today the Bible is fully completed, but then, no.
This ministry outreach by Samuel was something that had been going on for some time. They not only had ministry in the Word, they also had worship with music: you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. (1 Sam. 10:5). So, preaching of the Word, music and praise – sounds like our modern-day Church.
One man was standing, leading them: prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them… (19:20 ESV). What happened? The Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. (19:20). Gathering of godly people, with the ministry of the Word of God, changing lives. That is where the Lord put David for further training to be King of Israel. Read the book of Psalms, the songbook of the Bible. It was written primarily by David. It is about, authentic worship, praise and value of the Word. You have worship, fellowship, leadership, and discipleship all going on in Naioth, like Church today!
David says the happy man: Blessed [happy] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Ps. 1:1, 2). A King will be focused on the Law. This time at Naioth was deeper training, for his new job as King. The Lord will put you in the same training. He’s the 5 Star that has big plans for you.
The Warrior’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray you grant to me, the awareness that you are present with me every moment of my day. Assure me, that in times of chaos, and frenzy, you are the calm in the storm. You are never surprised by events, you know the future, and I want to trust you with deeper faith than ever before: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9:24). Drive your Holy Spirit deeper into those recesses where I still cling to old ways. Pry open my hands, and rescue me from my obsessions. In my mind, let them lose their value, and help me honor you more. Let them turn to dust, and become something I want to discard.
Then fill me with the delights of spiritual life and thought. Let me be satisfied in your eternal goodness, and passion for my good. Give me new desires, that are yours. Give me new insights that come from your mind. Give me new hope, that comes from your omniscience. Give me new faith, the comes from your creative might. Do not let me languish in unfruitful or shallow goals, rather give me eternal goals, that only you can work through me. Thank you for letting me experience spiritual delights, that laden my soul with satisfaction. Continue to hold me close, so that in your safety, I can minister to my family, with the same kind of redemptive personal love. I want them to feel safe with me, since I hold their highest good as my supreme goal. Give me wisdom, that surpasses my expectancy, so I can represent you to a lost and languishing world.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
