David! ... Part One

I have been away for a while, it wasn’t really intentional; I have been fighting self doubt and disbelief but I thank God for grace to finally get over myself and realize how special and loved I am. Luke 12, psalm 23 and psalm 139 was really helpful. My sister Lotachi has been my guardian angel; I really cannot imagine my life without her unconditional love for me. My friend Chibueze; words cannot really describe how much I value his presence in my life. God put people in our lives to hold us down when things seems to be shaky. I’m so glad I am finally back on track. And yea! A quick shout out to my new friends Emeka and Chidozie; I’ve been seeing a lot of them lately and they always brighten my day.

“Sometimes God Lets Us Lose Hope For A Moment So We’ll Retrace Our Steps And Find Him All Over Again”

Sorry for the brief deviation;

Have you ever wondered why God loves David so much even to the extent of calling him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22)? Well if you haven’t, I have. So I scanned through the book of Samuel to discover the traits I believe made him stand out.

Let’s start from when He was first anointed as king by Samuel;

When Samuel went to Jesse to anoint one of his seven sons as king as instructed by God, He saw Eliab; the first son who has all the physical features an ideal king should have #hunk, so he thought to himself, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “ Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:6-7).

This exact line made me remember (John 12:3-6) when Mary; the sister of Lazarus used an expensive perfume to wipe Jesus feet and Judas Iscariot asked a valid question “why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages”. The bible recorded in verse 6; that he did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

I am a strong believer that God doesn’t necessarily check our actions but the intentions behind these actions. We often forget this (we unintentionally feel we can deceive God).  We might pretend to humans and try to please them in expense of our sincere relationship with God but Humans are so fickle.  In (Luke 7:31-33) Jesus said “To what, then can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the market place and calling out each other: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.” For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, “He has a demon”.  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners”.

So back to David; He is obviously a good person, maybe not perfect but He has a good heart.

This also reaffirms me that what God says is mine will never miss me. It will locate me no matter where I am, I don’t necessarily have to go around trying to “network”, when it’s time God will make it happen. (1 Samuel 10-13) Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these”. So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest, “Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep. “Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

DAVID TRUSTED GOD (1 SAMUEL 17:45)

David said to the Philistine (Goliath), “You come against me sword and spear and Javelin, but I come against you in the name of LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give all of you into our hands... David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, without a sward in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him...

DAVID SUBMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD

“Where God Leads, He Meets Needs”
“Where God Guides, He Provides”

Because David was at the centre of God’s will; the Bible recorded in (1 Samuel 18:12-15) “In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. Also in (1 Samuel 18:27-30); Saul intended to lure David to his death by requesting for the head of 100 Philistine as a form of bride price for Michal; his daughter (who loves David), but God used this opportunity to lift David even higher; David and his men presented him with 200 heads in contrast to the 100 requested.

David “Always” Inquired Of God First Before Making Any Decision, (This Was His Strongest Trait; He Literally Involved God Even With The Most Trivial Things; Like He Had An Intimate Relationship With God) I Will List Just A Few...

1 Samuel 23:10-17; David heard that Saul planned to kill him at Keilah, so he first inquired (prayed) to God and asked if the keilah will be destroyed, if they the people will surrender him to Saul; God said yes... the bible also recorded that day after day Saul searched for David, but God did not give David into his hands because David also put HIM first..... Jonathan; the son of Saul (whom loved David like himself) went to David at Horest and helped him find strength in God. Don’t be afraid”, he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this. (this really makes me realize that even in affliction, God always finds a way to strengthen us with words of encouragement; it might come in form of a friend, sermons, books etc)

Unlike Saul, David knows that vengeance is of God, and He doesn’t try to take the short cut and manipulate his way to the top. He lets God be God that is relinquishing everything to Him.

DAVID HAD REVERENTIAL FEAR FOR GOD

1 Samuel 24:2-22;
Saul was told that David is in the Desert of En Gedi, he took 3000 men in search of David to kill him. Saul went into a cave to relieve himself without an iota of clue that David and his men were far back in the cave. David men said to him, “this is the day the LORD spoke of when He said to you, I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterwards, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “the LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. Then David went out of the cave and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’S anointed.’ See, my father, look at the piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hands will not touch you. “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”...

1 Samuel 26:8-12
Saul was still chasing David to kill him... so David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’S anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives, “he said, “the LORD Himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’S anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.” So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into deep sleep.
(Sometimes God Test Us To Reveal Our Heart And Our Dependency On Him)

This is in contrast to Saul who murdered 85 prophets of God just because Ahimelech who innocently inquired of God for David and gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath without any clue that Saul was after David’s life. (1 Samuel 22:10-20)

David had a mind of his own and takes responsibilities for his unruly actions, unlike Saul who claims his men made him disobey God. Many instances where David’s men tried persuading him to kill Saul but he stood his ground.