Where's your confidence?

In 1 Samuel 17 we meet the famous story of David and Goliath, it's a great story about how the underdog wins. The unexpected happens, and good triumphs over evil. I think many of us could probably recite the story as it's so well known, but do you ever stop to wonder how something so impossible become possible? 

One thing I noticed this time were the stark differences between David and Goliath: 

David, a young, handsome man, known for looking after sheep and playing music, against a warrior giant equipped with a shield, armour, javelin and sword. Can you imagine??? Then, can you imagine a king willingly sending David off against Goliath??? That makes no sense! So, why did Saul allow it? 

Maybe he was scared, or realised there weren't really any other options. On the other hand David must of been filled with the supreme confidence of the Holy Spirit - he had the confidence to approach Saul and persuade him that he could and should go against Goliath - who steps up for a challenge like that? 

David knew what was possible for his God, not for himself. 

He knew that the Lord had rescued him from lions and bears before. He must of reasoned - God has done it before, why wouldn't He do it again? 

David's confidence was not in his earthly condition (unlike Goliath) but in the supreme condition of his God - Where's your confidence? Is it in the circumstances you are in? In the security of your house, finance, family, even your own abilities? How deep does your confidence in these things go? Be honest with yourself, if you were to face Goliath today, what would you trust in? Where's your confidence? 

David knew that no matter how; fearsome, protected, strong, confident, capable and defiant Goliath was, God was stronger. He had confidence not in himself, but in God. That's the sign of a champion! 

Character

In one sentence, how would someone describe you? 

It's worth thinking about, I came across this description of David. It's just one sentence, but wow what a sentence! "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:17–18)

I'm not sure how people would describe me, I'd like to think they'd have nice things to say, but I'm not sure I'd reach David's level of character quality. David, although he was young, was already demonstrating great abilities and character. 

Firstly, he's skilled - to be skilled at something takes practice, effort, perseverance. Yes, you can have talent but to become skilled at something takes time.

David is also a man of courage, a man not afraid to fight, he probably has physical strength and confidence, even understanding of battle. 

Then David even looks good! Don't you just hate people that seem to have it all? Intelligent, strong, good at things, handsome? well David seems like one of those people! The lovely thing is though that it didn't seem to phase him, he has these qualities but he's also, 'prudent in speech' so he doesn't brag about it. He is wise in his speech. He was considered and careful when he spoke, not a man of rash words or flattery, no exaggeration, just shrewd speech. No wonder then that, "the Lord is with him." David had great character, character that takes time to develop, and God was with him. These qualities could have had David walking towards to success anyway, but the key part of this verse is this bit, that God himself was with him. 

I wonder if the young man realised that the quality of David's character was due to the fact that God was with him? 

Is it evident that God is with you through your character? 

Faithfulness

The life of Samuel, to me, is a marvellous demonstration of faithfulness. He remained faithful throughout his life Samuel grew up in the temple of God, he was dedicated to God by his mother who had been childless up until that point. He had grown and thrived under the guidance of Eli. Now he, Samuel is the prophet of Israel. He is the one people go to for divine insight and revelation and who encourages the whole nation to follow God. 

We could think that Samuel has had it easy, you know, a sheltered life, after all he was brought up in a priests family. However, Samuel hasn't had it easy, firstly he had to live apart from his biological Mum and Dad and had grown up around the ungodly behaviour of Eli's sons. He had seen and experienced their waywardness but chosen not to partake in it.  As he lived with him, I assume that Samuel must also of been present when Eli died (his sons died on the same day). The only family he'd really known left him in an instant. Samuel grew up knowing what the world was like outside the temple, yet he chose to stay within it. He had seen the lifestyle of Eli's sons and experienced heartache. Yet, throughout he has been faithful. He has a steadfastness that we rarely see. He followed God consistently. Even when he didn't want to.

When Saul was rejected as king (1 Samuel 15-16) Samuel was truly heartbroken. He mourned. He'd invested in Saul's life and was overwhelmed and distressed. Then God tells him to cut it out. What's Samuel's response? He doesn't moan or tell God he's being unreasonable, shake his fist at Him or ignore Him. Instead Samuel listens. He doesn't let his emotions keep getting in the way. He stops and listens to God. How incredible! He lays aside his own thoughts and feelings to continue to live faithfully. Despite his inner anguish he follows God. That's the sign of a faithful heart. 

Samuel led a life of faithfulness to God, but it's not easy. He's been through some hardship, he has known suffering, but throughout he has known God's presence and provision. He has known God's voice and he is willing to obey it. This is what makes him a marvellous man of God. 

We should learn to model Samuel. He clearly relied on the stability of God's track record. God is always faithful, he always has a plan and he always does what is best. We might not like it or understand it, but God is good and we can trust him. Samuel had seen; life, death, celebration, disappointment, rejection and transformation. His life, like yours and mine had its ups and downs. He got through it by serving and honouring God above himself, above his experiences and feelings, do you do the same? 

Obedience or sacrifice?

'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, 

as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,'

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)

Now, I've known the above verse is in the Bible but I'd not been aware of the context of it until now. Samuel said these words to Saul after Saul had gone into battle against the Amalekites, as God had told him to. However, Saul hadn't quite done as he'd been told. The victory had been won, but the way he did it is not how he was instructed. Saul had won the battle, he and his army were victorious, but they had been told to destroy everything and everyone, but they hadn't. They'd kept the best cattle, and brought back the Amalekite king. So, really it was half-hearted obedience. It's like Saul had listened to the bit that God said about winning and then not listened to how he, Saul, was meant to behave in doing so.

Have you ever done that? 

Kind of followed the rules but not quite? 

Maybe bent them a little to your advantage? Saul had gone to battle as he was told, but he hadn't gone about it in the right way. The instructions were clear yet Saul decided to do things his own way. He knew God had told him to go against this enemy but God had also told Saul to do it without compromise. Saul didn't listen, or he half listened. Ever done that? It's a bit like taking the easy way out with following God. You'll take the step of following what God says but you compromise faith in Him along the way.

Looking again at Saul, he seems to have good intentions. He says he was saving the best of the animals for an offering to God that's why he kept them. That's nice isn't it? It's like he's throwing God a thank you party. He was thinking about God the whole time wasn't he? Saul seems to of been thoughtful and giving glory to God. The thing is though it's like he thinks he's got better ideas than God. God was clear, but Saul wants to do things differently. He decides to go to battle as God said, but to carry out the task his own way. Half-hearted obedience. Don't fall into the same trap. No matter how good your intentions may be, no matter if it seems like you are giving up things to honour God, if you're not doing what He is told you to do, then you're not obedient. 

I'm not saying this is easy. It's usually far easier to compromise to; overlook things at work, turn a blind eye, pretend we have done things when we haven't or don't quite tell the truth to avoid a fall out in the name of peacekeeping. The thing is God doesn't want you to sacrifice your integrity. He wants your obedience, not obedience with some compromise, pure, faithful obedience. If you want to please God, that's how to do it.