If you have not read ‘Part 1’ – you can find it here: Faith: A David type of Faith. Part 1.
David was a giant slayer. Giant slayers are key players in advancing the kingdom of God. Most times, when we face challenges head on – like David did – we face some resistance. The enemy doesn’t like it when we operate within the power and strength of the Lord.
We see that David also faced some sort of opposition as he was about to walk into the calling that God had for him.
1 Samuel 17:28-30 – “When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.”
David was challenged as he stepped up into the calling God had on his life. We see early on in the story of Davids’ life in 1 Samuel 16, that David was handpicked and anointed by the Lords servant, Samuel. We know that David has been called, chosen and commissioned for a specific purpose. Davids brother began to question him, and criticized him for what he was doing. Often, when life throws disappointment in our direction – we begin to doubt. Our disappointments might look like a failed relationship, or finacial struggles, health issues or a worldwide health hazard. No matter what the situation, we need to stand secure in what God has called us to do. As we step up to the call that God has on our lives, we will face challenges along the way. Even though everything around us might look dim, dire and destitute, we should never doubt Gods plan for our lives. We need to step up and continue to walk boldly in what God has spoken over our lives.
1 Samuel 17:32-37 – “David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
I am most inspired by Davids response to discouragement. He refuses to be defeated. Instead of allowing a circumstance to dictate his direction, David held tightly on to the strength that God had provided. David remembers what the Lord had done for him when he faced his previous enemies. David stood firm on the power of his God to carry him through the battle.
Davids pre-king years prepared him for the battle and the throne. David was just a shepherd boy when he faced the giant. Yet, his years in the field watching the sheep prepared him for the battle against his enemy. Often times, we look at our unglamorous lives and question when God will start calling us out to walk on water with Him. We long for the mountain top experiences with God, when really it’s in the valley seasons that we are being trained for our tomorrow.
1 Samuel 17:38 – “Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.”
When David puts on Sauls armour, we begin to see the prophetic picture that God has for David. Davids past does not define his future. God has big plans for Davids life. As does He yours. Don’t let the pain of the past hold a banner over your life. Allow God to do what He wants to do in you and through you, for His glory.
In 1 Samuel 16, we read that, when Jesse presented his sons to Samuel, he did not include David. David was held with little regard in his own family. David was the youngest of eight sons and he did not have the physical build for a king. Jesse didn’t even think twice to mention him to Samuel. So when we read in 1 Samuel 17:38, that David is clothed in royal armour, we begin to see Gods plan for Davids life unfold. This is a prophetic declaration over Davids life. Later in 1 Samuel 17 we see that David becomes king over all of Israel and that our very own King Jesus forms part of his lineage. This forms another prophetic image of Christ, who is anointed by God to rule over all of mankind. We learn not to doubt small beginnings. They do not exclude us from Gods great salvation pupose for all of humanity. We all have a role to play in Gods orchestrated plan. No matter what our heritage looks like, Christ is our King.
Davids life is a representation of what God can do with an obedient heart. Davids walks through seasons of disregard, then destiny and then dignity when awarded the kingship of Israel.
1 Samuel 17:39-40 – “David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.”
When we begin to walk in the call God has on our lives – it will not look like the anointing God has placed on someone else’s life. God has a specific purpose for you, which is unique to you and your character. In Psalm 139 we read how God has fashioned and formed us in unique and wonderful ways. Sauls armour did not fit David, so David used what the Lord had given him. David used a Shepherds tools and not a soldiers tunic to fight the giant.
David renounces the armour of man but rejoices in the name of the Lord.
Part 3: to be continued.