FAITH WORTH EMULATING – DAVID

David is one of the most fascinating Bible characters to study. He has seen everything in his life. From being a shepherd boy who was not considered worthy by his family to be present when Prophet Samuel came seeking Jessy to anoint one of his sons as the future king of Israel; to the killing the giant Goliath who had totally terrorised the entire army of Israel and its king; to the running away from a jealous Saul bent upon killing him; to being anointed as the king of Israel; his psalms; his moral and ethical failures; his unfiltered repentance when Prophet Nathan encountered him; and his running in the dead of the night barefoot because of his son Absalom was taking over his kingdom – In all this we see a man who is just as human as anyone of us, yet with a heart of gold, and an impeccable faith of a humble man who wanted to bring glory and honour to his God at all times. Small wonder then that the LORD calls David, “A man after His own heart!” – what a badge of honour to have!!! Casandra Martin, writng in “Echoing His Heartbeat, The Life of David” sums up David’s heart and his love for his God.   
– “Here is the essential element of being a person after God’s own heart. Give your heart completely to being His person. Dedicate your life to walking in His presence. Train your eyes to notice His fingerprints. Make His love the focus of your whole being. Devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. He promises you will find Him.” – Casandra Martin

The key to David’s faith and his success is his passionate love for his God, and his steely determination to do all what he can to uphold the name of the LORD God Almighty. Nowhere in his entire life, do we see the faith of David in the LORD his God, as clearly as in his encounter with Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.

1- A Boy Incensed Because of the Insults Hurtled at YAHWEH the Living God
– “26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” – 1 Samuel 17:26

2- A BOY WHOSE FAITH WAS HONOURED BY GOD
– “32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine…34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.” – 1 Samuel 17:32,34-36

3- A BOY WHOSE COURAGE CAME FROM HIS FAITH IN HIS GOD AND NOT HIS OWN ABILITY
– “36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” – 1 Samuel 17:36-37

4- A BOY WHO SPOKE HIS FAITH FEARLESSLY TO HIS ENEMY’S FACE
– ”45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” – 1 Samuel 17:45-47

The rest is history as they say…
– “It should also be noted that David’s motives in wanting to take on Goliath were pure. David was not asking the Lord to help him become famous or to gain advancement. David was not on an ego trip. His motives had to do with Goliath defying the armies of the living God. In David’s mind, God’s reputation was ultimately at stake, and it was David’s desire that the armies of the living God would rise up to the occasion. So, when David asked to take on Goliath, Saul decided to let him and prayed that the Lord would be with David.” – Dr. Jay Harris

For David, God his LORD was everything and he wanted to always uphold Him and His name up above everything and everyone else. We see the same spirit and heart of David in all his writings and his dealings. 2 Samuel 22 is a song of praise from David to God. It is worth to read the whole chapter. Here is a sample reading for us to get a glimpse of David’s heart and mind.
– “29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. 30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. 31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” – 2 Samuel 22:29-31

Here under are words of David recorded for us in the Bible. It helps us gain a deeper understanding about David and his faith and heart.
– “8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” – Psalm 27:8
– “7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” – Psalm 28:7
– “1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:1-4
– “18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” – 2 Samuel 7:18
– “1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest…10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:1-4,10

May we take inspiration from the life of David and build our faith in God as did this ‘insignificant’ shepherd boy turned a king, who is known more for his faith in God, and for his passionate love for his God. May we like David realise the worthlessness of human beings, and the greatness of the LORD Almighty, our Creator and Redeemer. May we are trust God as David did and walk passionately to uphold the name of the LORD our God at all times. Even so the LORD help us.