. Life of David: 1Samuel 17
Divine confidence is to have complete trust in God’s grace and ability at work in and through you. It is not a function of your physical ability, intelligence, or expertise but rather a manifestation of an identity found in the Lord Jesus. The scripture says in Zechariah 4:6b, “… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” When you allow the Spirit of God to have His full workings in you, you will have no fear of what man can or cannot do to you (Psalm 118:6).
- David knew who he was in the Lord. His identity in the Lord as a victorious, bold, confident, and courageous man was very clear to him. He didn’t need the king, his brothers, or other warriors to affirm his identity. They, in fact, discouraged him from manifesting because they did not understand his purpose and assignment. It is, therefore dangerous and costly if you don’t know nor believe in who God has made you to be.
- Limitation/ Others views/Relatives’ limitation: Eliab his brother didn’t see who David was outside of being his youngest brother(small boy) and a shepherd.
- Relatives’ know-all view: David didn’t allow the limitation of how he’s viewed by close relatives to stop him from expressing and manifesting divine deposits. What has God been depositing in you that awaits manifestation? It might not be visible to the world and to those close to you right now but do you see it or would you rather believe your identity from others’ perception and validation? David didn’t live or allow to be hindered by their relatives’ limited view of him.
- Identify your process of making and then, cultivate your field: He probably wanted to train to be a soldier but as the last boy of the family, he was left with no other choice than to tend his father’s sheep. He didn’t live his life complaining about what he didn’t have but he rather empowered himself and fully utilized the resources he had around him. He trained himself to be a warrior on the farm. He built courage while on the farm. It was here he built the impressive profile that made Saul commit to him and probably believe him. Develop your profile in your current field.
- Dominated his territory: David had already defeated Goliath twice while tending his father’s sheep. He identified who he was early on in life; a warrior. He killed a lion and a bear.
- Protected the subjects in his territory: Many shepherds would have been terrified and left the sheep for their safety. David had an unusually dedicated heart of responsibility toward the sheep. This quality helped him see himself as the only one physically capable of protecting the sheep in that time of danger. He wasn’t trying to show off or test his skills but he was simply protecting what was committed into his hands. As a parent, a guardian, a believer, a teacher, or a minister, have you been actively protecting the souls committed into your hands from the evil one?
- He used the available weapon: As he did in the field, he didn’t use sophisticated weapons to fight Goliath. He used the unfamiliar, least-expected weapon, a sling, and a stone to defeat a giant.
- He had complete trust in the Lord: He put his whole confidence in the Lord. He publicly attributed the glory of the victory he had experienced in the field to God. He identified Goliath of the Philistine as an enemy of God who had come to defy God’s army. The army of Israel themselves didn’t see this reality, even though they had experienced many feats through Him. Their being in thousands didn’t help them either. David entrusted the battle into God’s hands. He overcame.
- He was careful to pick his weapons: David wasn’t afraid of telling the king that he wasn’t familiar with his sophisticated armor and wouldn’t go to battle in it. He didn’t start with having confidence in the Lord’s ability to defeat the enemy and yield to men’s limited view of using the weaponry that brings glory to man. If David had defeated Goliath through the spear and arrows or with the heavy armory proposed to him, the glory would have been ascribed to the objects and the king who probably picked them. However, David understood that His God doesn’t win battles with a multitude of soldiers or highly modernized mechanized weapons, he rejected what he wasn’t familiar with and stuck to what he understood. Believers have lost many battles in their families, careers, and ministries all because they don’t believe in the simplicity of divine provisions. They allow and keep considering so many strange weaponry as presented to them that they lose sight of God’s plan for them, and end up with the same results unbelievers get. Understand your weapons, and the provisions of God for you in this race.
- He believed in his choice of attack: Don’t allow anyone to undermine the effectiveness and power of God’s provisions for you, in all areas of your life. David didn’t. I’m sure some Israeli soldiers, not only the Philistines would have also laughed at his dress and choice of weaponry while going to fight Goliath. His brothers would have tried to talk of him out of his foolishness and ignorance. Apart from worrying that he would be wasted by the Philistine, his brothers would have buried their heads in embarrassment as David approached the giant. David didn’t look in the direction of the distractions. Do not, either. Don’t expect everyone to believe in your assignment or to support your radicality in completely obeying God. The result of your doggedness in focusing on what you believe might be what will transform their lives and turn them over to God. Do not seek, as you don’t need their validation.