Day Nine: David, an Exact Representation

 

The battle in 1 Sam 17 is not complete without mentioning David’s character. He was, after all, a man after God’s own heart.

David wore what he knew. His armour was strengthened by God, not by men. Likewise, your armour is tested by the many tests you have written.

He trusted in God's armour because he had a relationship with God. His trust was born from that relationship.

1 Sam 17: 41So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

Standing before the enemy is not easy.

• For the third time, David was judged on his age. First by his brother, then Saul, and then Goliath.
• Goliath took it one step further and found his looks appalling.
• Goliath scorned/mocked him.
• Goliath's assumption caused his death. He did not see the sling as an actual weapon.
• He cursed David. Many times, you will be cursed and not embraced for what you bring to the fight.
• He threatened David. He said that he would feed him to the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field. He saw him as a weak person. He didn’t see David’s strength.
• David was unwavering. He stared Goliath down.
• He knew who was on his side.

 

David did not allow his youth or ruddy good looks to detour him from his mandate. He knew he had to face this giant and kill him. Nor did he listen to the scorn and mockery of everyone close to him. This enemy had to come down.

He did not do this to be elevated above the rest; he did this to save God’s people from despair and fear. His vision was God’s people. He could identify with them. Even at that young age, he understood what fear can do to you. It can break you down and keep you in shackles of despair. But he had the experience of the lion and the bear to back up his theory. This giant would fall.

Do not despise what you have learned so far. Every experience you had up to this point is part of your armour. It sets you apart and it sets you up for victory. Do not allow the enemy to tell you that you are not worthy. That you cannot speak up. That you are too young, ill-trained. Not ready to fight.

Do you know who you are in Christ? Do you have the Word of God in you? This point can never be stressed enough. The Word is your defence system. The Word builds you up and give you the hope and faith you need for any battle.

Being an exact representation will cost you something. It is a time-consuming effort that will bring you no fame. It will not always be honourable. People will not flock to your side to help you. You will become a lone ranger. In this battle, you must become used to being alone. Of standing alone, of fighting the good fight, alone.

This is not the path for the fainthearted. At times you will fail or go astray. You will be bruised, beaten and face many other battles. I will not lie to you; This is a tough road, but it begins with that one decision.

And to really get into the right frame of mind, It will cost you to switch off the TV, and close the devices that keep you occupied, that steal your time. Sometimes you will say no to an invitation because you have been separated. You are no longer part of the in-crowd. It will cost you time and effort to get into the Word. This will not be an easy road.

When you continue to read David’s story, you will notice that this man had to face many more giants in his life. You name a trail, and he faced it.

• He was broke and destitute.

• He was homeless.

• He was tempted.

• He had to hide on a few occasions from his enemies.

• He killed a man.

• He lost a child in childbirth.

• His wife scorned him.

• He had to keep himself insane to preserve his life.

• He was attacked.

• He was deceived.

• He was in despair.

• He had to stay hidden from his son.

But he remained faithful to God. No matter the trail, he knew where his strength was. He never claimed to be perfect. He, too, had dreams that were dashed. Yet, his faithfulness and consistency kept him alive in God’s heart. So much so that Jesus came from his linage. His destination was a geographical destination, signifying the road we will travel, and he maintained his relationship with God through it all.

I cannot promise you a safe ride or a smooth road. I cannot promise that you will not land in the pigsty. I cannot promise that you won’t get sick or lose everything. But I can promise you a safe journey as long as your hand remains in His.

David became the template that we must follow.

We too, are called to be a remnant that will break the hedge and show the way to a better life: the way to Christ; the city on the Mountain.

Put your hand in His and trust that God will carry you through this, too. Be an exact representation of God.

Grace and peace to you.

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Day Eight: How Does Your Future Look Like?

 

In the story of David and Goliath, we see David emerge from being a shepherd to one who kills Goliath with one stone. From there on, his future was sealed. His aim was so secure that it killed Goliath immediately. Beheading the Philistine showed the nation of Israel that fear and despair had no control over them. He broke the lie Goliath had let them believe. Fear and despair can leave you powerless. As long as you believe these lies, you will not overcome. That is why you have to get back into the Word and eat it daily. It must be part of your daily routine.

Life is hard and trying. If you find it easy, then you must get out of this river. In this river you will be washed by the Word until you are smooth like a stone. Which means you will experience trails.

Rejoice in your current battle, circumstance, and trial. Move fluidly and without fear as David did; for each step will only make you smoother—an exact representation of Christ.

When I battled with these lies, I got back into the Word and used communion every day. In fact, I still use it because I have realised the benefits of taking it daily. The more you “eat” the Word, the more these lies or mindsets bow its knee. Communion reminds you who you are, what God has done for you, and it becomes a reality that heals you.

I want to leave you with the following passage from the Book of Revelation. This section speaks about our future inheritance (nachal). Like David, we can draw from this truth.

Rev. 21:9-27 

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Our future is in Christ. He is our final destination. In Revelation 21, we see that everything is precise and accurate. It is transparent and clear. We are all equal in God’s eyes, doing exactly the same thing.

Being the bride of Christ, we walk in God’s fulness. There is no need of the sun or the moon because Christ’s light will shine through us. We will walk in constant light. There will be no idols, no fear, no crafty schemes to keep us from our task. It will all be equal.

God’s purpose is to bring us to this place of Zion. This city called Jerusalem, not the geographical one in Israel, but a spiritual city. It will be on the mountain and not in the valley. There is no victory in the valley. There is only victory when we stay next to the River of Life, walking with the right mindset. In complete faithfulness and oneness with God.

Here are a few things that you can do when you are in the valley.

· Thanksgiving Ps 69:30

· Rejoice Phil 4:4

· Intercession Dan 9:3-19

· Acclamation and adoration Ps 34:1

· Loyal Ps 78:8

· Self- examination 2 Cor13:5

· Repentance James 4:8

Laying down any man-made achievements and glory will bring us that much closer to God’s plan for us. We are called to be a remnant that will break the hedge for those who are not part of the Kingdom yet. No matter how we look, or our age, or what position we held on to this earth. God is looking for the Johns, Josephs, Gideons, Elijahs, Samuels, Zechariahs, Ruths and Esthers, etc. that will stand in the gap. People who will set everything aside to be an exact representation of Christ on this earth.

These people erected the gates in their lives, setting the example for others to follow.

There are many who are still out there in the wilderness, in despair, unsure of the future. They need a shepherd’s voice; one who is familiar to them, to take them through the hedge into victory.

Matt 28: 19 -20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Discipleship is a huge part of our work. The labourers are few. Will you be part of the remnant, whose voice will capture those who is calling out? Will you be a David who will take the lead and kill the Goliath in order for your people to be set free? Are you that disciple that will bring direction and clarity to the lost?

Ask the Lord to show you how to be an effective stone, ready to be used, so that you, too, will be part of this plan of God. And overcome the valley as soon as possible.

Grace and peace to you.

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Day Seven: Why Five Smooth Stones?

 

Picking up smooth stones was a favourite pastime of my family. Even today, when I go camping or hiking, I am always on the lookout for smooth rocks. The array of colour and creative texture mesmerise me. Though I have never used it as weapons I am still drawn to it.

In Biblical times, and for those living in the countryside, it was part of their weaponry. Some might call it barbarism, but for others it's survival. No matter how we feel, we can learn much from this story of David.

Remember that the story of David is for symbolic interpretation, just as the rest of the Old Testament is a symbolic interpretation of our lives. So, when we read about a battle in the O.T., it does not mean that we learn how to do battle physically. Today’s battles are spiritual and mostly within our minds. The more time we spend in the Word, the more we will defeat the strongholds that hold us captive.

Let’s delve into 1 Sam 17 to learn more about the stones and what it means for us.

1 Sam 17: 40Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

In Hebrew, a stone or eben is a merging of the words father and son (av + ben). Therefore, a stone is not only hard, and used in the right hand a weapon, but shows us the relationship between a father and a son. It is a far worthier choice of ammunition against any enemy that wants to attack you.

The fact that David threw the stone at Goliath’s head is symbolic of a damaged mindset that has to be destroyed. This can only be done by a strong relationship between a father and a son. We learn this first hand from the relationship between the Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ. Christ is our Rock. Because of Him, we can overcome every lie and stronghold that is preventing us from being in a relationship with the Father. When we rely on Him, as our Rock, we can overcome.

So, why did David choose five stones when it only took ONE stone to defeat the great giant? There are many debates about this, but let’s see what the word says about it.

FIVE is associated with grace, the gospel, and anointing. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke of fear and depression. It is grace that brings us to Christ and the gospel that gives us the wisdom to stand.

Though it only took one smooth stone to defeat Goliath, David picked up five, a sign that it is the Word that defeats a beast. Jesus was likewise taunted (tempted) for forty days. Like David, He overcame the adversary with one smooth stone by quoting Deuteronomy, the fifth book. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

The hints of the number five are one example of many precious stones scattered throughout the Biblical text. When the Light hits them just right, our (spiritual) eyes see the connections that threaten the entire Bible together in one seamless and flawless tapestry. The same story is told again and again in simple and progressively more detailed and varied ways. That story is the Good News or the Gospel.

Why Are the Stones Smooth?

The Word washes us, like iron that sharpens iron. It brings correction, edifies us and smooths out the rough edges. When the Word is in us, we become the stones in God’s hands. We become One with the Father and the Son.

Each impact, trial, and obstacle that the Living Water subjects us to, wears, carves, and sculpts us into the image of God. The consistent rush of the water threshes the things that offend us until one is as smooth as David’s five stones.

God chose the story of David and Goliath to be one of the first impressions we have about King David. Why do you think this is? Could it be that He wanted us to know how “a man after His own heart” defeated the beast without AND the beast within? I believe it is. We see David battling this dual war throughout his lifetime.

He committed serious sin in his lifetime. But like the water, David was persistent and consistent in turning back to God and repent and let God continue the good work He began in him. As such, he became a “living stone” and a role model for us.

It must be part of our daily walk; to sit by the river (Word) and meditate on it until we become smooth stones that God can use.

This natural phenomenon has deep spiritual implications. The Father’s Light (Lampstand) is always trying to penetrate our minds (and hearts) to remove the blind spots. But like the hard rocks, we must yield to the Word. The will of God is evident: He desires us to be Living Stones in His House.

1 Peter 2:5 - 6

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

This can never be emphasis enough.

• You must allow the Word to smooth the edges consistently.

• To understand the season, you must study the Word.

• To have vision or sight, you must study the Word.

• To hear/know God’s voice, you must study the Word.

• To be part of the remnant, you must know the scriptures.

• To distinguish who is your champion, you must know the Word.

So far, we have covered the following in this bible plan:

• You must walk with God’s armour and not your own.

• You must choose your place of battle wisely. Make sure you are not in an inaccurate place; this can determine your mindset.

• You must understand obedience and how to activate God’s word. Quickly.

• You must know who your protector is. 

Each step is a conscience choice you must make to enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom.

Grace and peace to you. 

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Day Six: God is the Living Water.

 

So far, we have learned a few important things from this famous battle in the Bible. We have learned that our positioning is crucial when facing the enemy. When the enemy emerges, will you believe his voice or that of God? What to do when you feel powerless? The principles of acting quickly or to act on an Apostolic command and what armour to wear.

Today we see how important it is to be refreshed from the living water. When we face Goliath, we become thirsty, and it is important then to drink at the refreshing waters of the Word.

Let’s continue with the scripture in 1 Sam 17.

1 Sam 17: 40Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

When faced with the threat of an enemy army and their champion, it wasn’t the king’s armour or sword David had chosen to use. No, this shepherd went with what he knew best, his trusty old sling shot.

His choice of ammunition was Five smooth stones from the brook. Before we get into his choice of picking up five stones, let’s look at the Hebrew word used here for brook.

In Hebrew, the word is nachal, which means to inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, or to possess. In other words, David drew his ammunition from the only trustworthy source: from the living waters of the promises of God. He embraced his inheritance in God and knew that God has given him the land to possess. It refreshed his body, soul and mind.

David knew that Saul’s armour had not been tested, but there was One that had never failed David in the past. That was his refreshment that occupied his mind. He remembered the lion and the bear. He already knew the outcome and knew he could trust God again with the same outcome. Victory was on his mind when he knelt at the brook.

Remember back in day one, God said in Micah 2: 12-13, “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of so many people. 13The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, and go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the Lord at their head.”

David was called to break open the hedge of despair and fear for his people. He possessed the power to not only break the hedge but also to lead the army of Israel into victory. He had the mandate directly from God.

What made David so sure that he could defeat the giant Goliath? After all, he was the youngest of his brothers and was much smaller in stature than King Saul. I believe it was because he knew who he was in the eyes of God. He was part of the remnant. Shepherding the flocks of his father, Jesse had given him valuable experience in not only tending to the vulnerable but also in defeating mighty beasts. And that’s exactly what David compared Goliath with, an uncircumcised beast.

David knew that the Holy Spirit would always prevail over the flesh of a beast, whether that beast is an actual beast of the field, or if it is a man living in the beast’s image. David had already chosen to live after the image of God. He was the exact representation of Christ; therefore; a remnant; called to do mighty exploits. Those made in the image of God RULE over all creatures, great and small. Goliath was no exception and David had complete faith in this truth from the Word of God.

Though the giant taunted Israel with threats for forty days, invoking great fear in the king and army of Israel, David could “see” beyond his natural sight. I believe this is figured not only in the source of his ammunition (the stones were retrieved from Living waters), but in the number of stones that he chose to carry.

How good is your sight?

In order to really win a fight, you must envision the victory. David already saw Goliath’s head rolling into the valley.

Sight is very important when you are fighting the enemy. Without sight, you are blind.

Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 11 three times, “What do you see?”

7As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

Without vision, we cannot see what God is doing. We cannot understand the things that happen right before our eyes if we do not study the word.

How do we receive vision?

By studying the word of God.

Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

It is so easy to be tossed around and carried away with every doctrine that is out there. False teaching on when Jesus is coming, about the rapture, or going to heaven. We are called for much more and not to run away. We are called to overcome.

We must be able to understand the scripture, divide it rightly. Jesus confronted the disciples by asking them three times, “What do you see?”

We must understand the smoothness of the stones and its significance in order to use it correctly. We must know that we have to get it from the living waters; the river of God to be accurate in our interpretation. We don’t have time to run after lies and hide in the shadows. No, we must understand the times, and be part of the remnant that will break the hedge for others to follow.

The significance of the five smooth stones carries a grace with it that can be wielded once you understand God’s word. It is effective and powerful. It carries with it an authority that only the Davidic company can use. But it begins at the brook, where each stone has been washed and cleansed with the pure waters of the Word. Once you drink of this water, you will not be satisfied with polluted water.

God is the living water that wants to refresh your daily intake. This is where you will become strong, trust in your inheritance as a son of God and do mighty exploits for God.

Grace and peace to you.  

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Day Five: Saul’s Armour cannot Protect you.

 

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1 Sam 17:38So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.

• Why can Saul’s armour not protect you? Because—

• • Sauls armour had no belt. You need the belt of truth to keep you upright in this fight.

  • The coat of mail did not have the added benefit of righteousness and any spear of sword could get in.

  • It didn’t have the shoes of peace.

  • This armour had no shield to protect its bearer.

  • The helmet didn’t fit. If your mind is not sound you cannot win this fight. Goliath was taunting them. He exposed their fear and dread and made them weak.

  • The sword was not tested. You must know the two-edged sword to win.

  • And, because Saul was not a prayerful man, nor eating of the bread, he showed the same characteristics as his men. He was depressed and fearful.

  As a Davidic company, we cannot trust and rely on human-centred armour. We must put on God’s armour. We must be Christ-centred. A humanistic armour is unequipped [not tested] to protect us. But God’s armour empowers us to do mighty exploits in Jesus name. 

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLV)

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The 7 pieces of armour of God

• The Belt of Truth. It is vital to have the belt of truth. Without it we will be bend over. We will see the world upside down. We will have an up-side down mentality that will leave us fearful and depressed.
• The Breastplate of Righteousness will safeguard us against the attacks of the devil. Do a self-study on the righteousness of God. Wear it as a breastplate around your heart.
• The Gospel of Peace carries healing and refreshment. It gives us authority to tremble on snakes and scorpions.
• The Shield of Faith is our protection against the devices of the enemy. Without it, we are easy targets.
• The Helmet of Salvation protects our minds. It helps us to see the blind spots that keep us from overcoming. It protects our ears from what we hear. Our eyes from what we see and our minds from what we believe.
• The Sword of the Spirit is a two-edged sword that helps us to stand our ground. When we face Goliath and his army, we need this sword to defeat and overcome their lies.
• Prayer is the last resort of our defence. We must have the word in us to pray accordingly. If we do not understand God’s word, our prayers will be powerless. Jesus said to Satan: “It is written…” you need the word to overcome the enemy.

In this fight, we cannot wear Saul’s armour. It will not fit us. But God has given us the perfect armour (and it fits all) to defeat our enemy. We must learn to stand our ground with God’s armour.

Saul’s armour will leave us open. Because it is too big, it creates openings for the enemy’s spears to get in. We must leave no room for these spears.

We cannot wear Saul’s helmet, nor his coat of mail, or his sword. It will hinder our walk. It will hinder our movement and render us powerless when we face Goliath.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

(AMP) 4 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

God’s armour is light and not heavy. It gives us unhindered movement. God carries the burden for us. We don’t have to carry it with us. God uses our strength to conquer the enemy. He sharpens our tongue; he sharpens our eyes and ears, and he sharpens our minds. Only when we have victory over our minds, can we truly become an overcomer.

It is not about the outer casing, but about the inner strength. The knowledge that God is with us. We must not be fooled by beautiful and shining objects. They are devoid of power; the real power is within. It is in trusting God with your abilities and resources that you overcome.

How phenomenal to know that we do not need expensive things or shining things to overcome. Our ability to overcome is within us. As we walk in the spirit, knowing God’s voice, and eating our daily bread, we are equipped for any battle.

Fear and despair have no power over us. Make sure you go with God’s armour and not Saul’s.

Grace and peace to you.

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Day Four: The Principles of an Apostolic Command.

 

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1 Sam 17: 17Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.”

Apostle means the send one. This is not a fancy title to hang on the wall but a person that receives instructions from a spiritual father. In a true apostolic move a son would react quickly once he received a command.

In 1 Sam 17 we see David’s reaction to his father’s command. He received five commands from his father, Jesse. He acted quickly on these commands. It showed the heart of David. He understood the apostolic command of the day and became the designated apostle of his time.

An apostle understand the urgency of a command and obeys that command without murmuring. An apostle doesn’t have to pray about it. Or go on a fast for 40 days; he simply acts on the command.

Part of an apostolic command is that you have to act quickly. There should be no delay in your actions. It is not the time to think about the next step; it is time to act.

What was the command from Jesse?

• He had to take an ephah of dried grain and ten loaves,
• He had to run to his brothers in the camp,
• And carry the ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand.
• He had to see how his brothers fare,
• And report back to Jesse. 

Meaning: He had to take the moral law back to his brothers. Israel needed the moral law to fortify their minds once more. The moral law showed them towards God’s word. It would direct their footsteps and fortify their heart.

They had forgotten what God had said and David had to remind them who they were, and Who they represented. They had to eat the word once more. They needed the proceeding word to remind them who they were. God’s nation.

The symbolism of the ten cheeses can be seen as:

1. Provision and nourishment: cheese, as a food item, symbolizes sustenance and nourishment. By bringing these cheeses, David was providing for his brothers and the soldiers. It reflects his care and concern for their well-being during the battle.

2. Offering of peace: in ancient times, sharing food was often a gesture of peace and goodwill. By delivering the cheeses, David may have been extending a message of peace or unity to the captain and his brethren.

3. Faithfulness and obedience: David’s obedience to his father’s instructions shows his faithfulness and willingness to carry out even seemingly mundane tasks. This faithfulness would later play a significant role in his life.

Sending the cheeses to the men brought nourishment to the soul, peace to the mind and reminded them to be obedient to the Word. Jesse acted as a “spiritual father” to all the men. He brought back hope in a time they needed it the most.

19Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.

David’s obedience to the command shows us that David was a picture of a true shepherd. He left the sheep with a keeper. A person he trusted. A person who walked with him. 

21For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.

Goliath’s voice kept the Israelites in a state of fear and dread. Because of the apostolic command David was positioned accurately to hear the Philistines threat and Saul’s reaction. 

25So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”

26Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

This compelled David to ask what the champion of God would receive to remove the reproach from Israel. David was compelled to act on behalf of the Lord. The zeal of God compels us to do mighty exploits.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NLV)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

27And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.” 28Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

Eliab represents the institution. The institution will always try to stop you from taking action. It will find fault with everything you do and who you are.

• Eliab didn’t understand the proceeding word and found fault with David. Remember; he was the accuser of the brethren. Though his name signified that God was his father, he wasn’t.
• Instead, he acted in haste and became angry.
• He didn’t enquire about David’s motives.
• They didn’t have a relationship, and, because of this, he didn’t know his brother, otherwise he would have known that there is no pride or insolence in David.
• He looked down at David because of his age.
• Eliab didn’t know about David’s exploits. He didn’t know that David had defeated the lion and the bear. 

29And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” 30Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. 31Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

The result was:

• • Saul made the same mistake as Eliab. They looked at the outer man and not the heart.
  • God looks at the heart and not the package.
  • David was unwavering in the face of danger. 

34But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

It is a choice that you must make. Keeping your head up and standing up for what you believe is the only defence that you have. Be sure of who God is in your life. Take the bread and the cheese today and take nourishment from God’s word today. God’s peace is with you.

Today’s choice might safe your family. But you must enter this fight with the same conviction as David did. You cannot falter in the face of your enemy. You must know who you are in Christ. Christ defeated the lion and the bear on the cross. Therefore, you have the victory and can overcome this mocking Goliath.

Do not listen to the voices of those who wants to stop you.

Once you received an apostolic command you must act the same way that David did.

Grace and peace to you.

 

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Day Three: Powerless In The Midst Of Your Enemy.

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1 Sam 17: 12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.

The three eldest brothers represented their father, Jesse. They didn’t represent Christ. They were in an inaccurate position when the war broke out.

Note: God has called us to represent Christ. To be exact representations of Christ and not Jesse.

Eliab’s name signified that God is my father, but did not live up to that declaration. He was the “accuser” of his brother. Some people, even those in your family, are fake, acting all sincere but will accuse you or insult you.

Abinadab’s name signified that the father is generous, but we never hear of this brother of David again. Generosity can work against you if you are not pure in mind. The fact that he was not a true brother might have something to do with his absence.

Shammah conveyed wastefulness. He most likely squandered what was given to him and was not very reliable. The reason Jesse had to send David to check up on his brothers. They would not have been to happy about this and attacked him right away.

Though David was the youngest, he already showed what kind of man he would become. His consistency gave him the edge above his brothers.

15But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.

40 represents the Wilderness.

Goliath tested them for forty days. He mocked them. Told them how useless they were. Day and night, Goliath’s voice drowned out God’s Word from their midst. Not even Saul had the power to contradict this man’s tongue. He rendered Israel to a eunuch state. He castrated them; removing their manhood and left them paralyzed. (Sounds like someone else we know but we will not speak about Jezebel now.)

With all the mocking, Israel must have felt they were back in the wilderness and had forgotten about the manna. In the wilderness, they received their daily bread (manna)on two tablets but here we see they didn’t eat of this manna. They had no proceeding word to deal with this uncircumcised Philistine.

When you do not take your daily bread, you become powerless to fight the enemy. When you do not meet God in the morning and evening with prayer you become fearful. You forget about God’s Word and the power it has. You become depressed and fearful. You try to run and hide, but Goliath’s voice holds you captive. Instead of going to Azekah, they stayed in the valley.

They needed a David. But the David they envisioned and the David they received did not look the same.

This applies to us today. We pray for an outcome, but when it doesn’t look like the one we envisioned, then we attack the God send “champion”. Just like Eliab did with his brother.

Whose word will you believe today?

Will you crumble and be dismayed?

Will you believe a mocking Goliath’s word? Or will you trust in Christ’s words of healing and restoration?

The longer you stay in the valley, the longer Goliath will hold you captive. Do not neglect the spoken word nor your prayers in the morning and evening. Stay connected to God and he will show you the way through the hedge.

The choice is yours.

Grace and peace to you.

 

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