We learn from the Bible that David was a man without fear. He grew up as a simple shepherd boy and yet later became Israel’s greatest warrior. What are some of the things that took place during these two periods of his life? As a shepherd, David learned early on how to respond to issues of his day that came his way. When a sheep was in danger of a wild animal, David immediately responded by protecting the helpless one. I Samuel 17 starting at verse 34 tells us David would “keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came…” to “take a lamb out of the flock, he went out after it and struck it and delivered the lamb from his mouth…” then the time he saw the opportunity to fight the Philistine giant Goliath. David said, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
Are desires you have based on what your flesh desires at that given moment, or do you inquire of the Lord for the wisdom He wants you to consider? How do you approach what can be fear versus wisdom? Deut. 3:22, “You shall not fear them: for the Lord your God He shall fight for you.” Josh. 1:9, “Be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Psa. 23:4, & Ps. 27:1: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me,” and “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps. 56:4, “In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.” And the words of Ps. 91:5, “I shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flies by day.”
Consider these three verses regarding the word wisdom. Ex. 31:6, “In the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom.” 2 Chron. 1:10, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge,” and Prov. 4:7, “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting, get understanding.”
David learned along the way when to engage God in every situation of life he was to be involved in. As an example, when the Philistines attacked David, he always inquired of the Lord as to ‘IF’ and ‘WHEN’ he was to counterattack. On one occasion when he was attacked a second time, he inquired of God as to whether to attack at that moment, and this time God said yes, but with a condition. 2 Sam. 5:24, “Wait until you hear the sound of marching in the balsam trees.” This tells us David learned a valuable principle of staying focused on what God wanted for him, not what seemed logical! He was a man who did not fear, but moved only after receiving wisdom from the Holy Spirit.
How many times in life have we responded in doing something the same way each time because it was the way we did it last time? What if God has a different plan than ours? “So David inquired of the Lord…” These are important words that we are to learn from. We are to be in such relationship with God that we are constantly inquiring of Him on every matter. When we do this, we can expect the same results that David achieved—success in our choices. This is the reward of obedience to God, and we learn we do not have to build a name for ourselves. God will see to it that we are honored for our obedience.
According to the gospels, Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with men. Can we admit today that we might need to grow in wisdom as well? God’s wisdom versus our fears!
Blessings, Psalm 20:7 Dale & Jeannie