David and his brothers

Saturday February 19, 2022

David and his brothers

“Samuel did as the Lord had said... He consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 16. 4-5

David's seven brothers were all circumcised, the mark of their belonging to God. And all of them had been sanctified or consecrated to God through Samuel. Nothing apparently differentiated them from their younger brother. Yet none of them were ready to fight against Goliath. Why ?

1- Because they had allowed the fear that prevailed among the soldiers of Israel to paralyze their own faith. Fear is a contagious disease. If you keep paying attention to his voice, you will eventually become infected with it. Of course, you cannot isolate yourself in an ivory tower, but you must protect your heart against the negative influences of fear. By listening too much to Goliath's voice, David's brothers had lost all courage. And you, who do you listen to ? Seek divine guidance and build your life on that unshakable foundation. Let His Word direct every circumstance of your existence.

2- Because they had no previous experience of divine power and protection. They had never fought before to defend something important in their lives. The small battles are there to harden us and allow us to face the big battles that will determine our destiny. The lion that David slew was a difficult enemy to defeat, the bear a little more terrible, and Goliath even more formidable. But David was not intimidated by this latest challenger. “The Lord has delivered me from the claw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, and he will also deliver me from this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). Remember your experiences with God. They will be your strength in times of crisis.

3- Because they all had a beautiful bearing, but not a heart devoted to God. So He rejected them, saying : “The Lord looks not like man : man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16. 7). David's spiritual strength had developed through observation of creation and in intimacy with the Creator. “As a deer longs for streams, so my soul longs for you, O God !” (Psalm 42.2). Can we all say the same ?

Source (His Word for Today)