Pearls in ink

The Spirit of Excellence II: A Series on David – Follow His Leading & Be Still

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Continued from my previous post…..


 

The king presented David with his very own armor – a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. After he clad himself with the armor, David strapped the sword over it and took a step or two to see what it was like – he had never worn such things before.

Now, here’s a bit of fun trivia for you:


A Bit of Trivia Knowledge

King Saul pointed out that David was young. However, that does in no way indicate that he was short or weak. In fact, Saul only specifies that the Philistine giant has more experience fighting. In 1 Samuel 10:23 (NLT), it says that Saul “stood head and shoulders above anyone else”. In other words, King Saul was taller than the average man. Now, why would King Saul make David wear his armor if it were oversized? It would not be a proposition that man skilled in battle would suggest. Making David wear an armor larger than his size would only pose as a risk! Imagine – if the gear were much larger than he was, it could easily slip off making him vulnerable. Yes, David was uncomfortable in the armor. However, it does not mean that the armor did not fit him – he had not worn such gear before. For example, I may have a pair of stilettos that fit me perfectly, yet I can still be uncomfortable wearing them if I am not accustomed to wearing them. In addition, please do not forget that David fought off lions and bears. Before his encounter with Goliath, he was already considered a “mighty man of war” and was ordained as Saul’s armor-bearer. In addition, as earlier noted, the prophet Samuel was rather impressed by the height of his older brothers. By now, David may have reached the size of his older brothers – we cannot deny that a family shares the same gene pool. Plus, in order for David to wield Goliath’s sword, he would most likely have to be taller than the average height. Plus, in Songs of Solomon 5:15 (NLT), the legs of Solomon, David’s son, are likened to “marble pillars” and his posture is likened a “cedar”. In fact, a cedar tree is specifically renowned for its height. Thus, the height factor appears to run in the family genes. However, there does not seem to be an explicit mention regarding whether David was short or tall; thus, his may not have been his defining characteristic. As a result, I don’t find the fact the widely held assumption regarding David stature to be a valid one. David’s height was not a concern to Saul – it was his age and lack of fighting experience. Nonetheless, height is not a factor that God is bothered about. In fact, God even chided Samuel for gauging the sons of Jesse by their height and countenance when having to anoint the next king of Israel. Being short, tall, or in between does not determine whether you are anointed or not. In I Samuel 16:7 (NLT), God blatantly reprimanded Samuel, “Don’t judge him by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”


Follow His Leading

Despite being presented with the finest armor in the kingdom, perhaps the only armor in the kingdom, David protested, “I can’t go in these – I am not used to them.”

There is a key right there. Do not try to imitate someone else’s method but rather follow the leading of the Spirit. God’s Will is different for each of us. There is no “one-size-fits-all”. If there was a formula, there would be no need to depend on the Holy Spirit. Your relationship with God is going to be different from that of someone else’s. It is personalized! In fact, in Romans 12:6a (NLT), Paul states, “In His Grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” His plans for you are entirely different from His plans for someone else. You are unique – one of a kind! P.T. Barnum noted, “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” How God directs you do things may be different from how He directs others. As per Psalm 32:8a (NLT), “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the BEST pathway for YOUR life.'” Trust His Guidance and embrace the pathway that He has paved just for you! Be assured that it is His best for you!


Be Still

Wandering alone by the stream, David picked up five, smooth stones and secured them in his bag. Before I take on a task, my father often impresses upon me the significance of “being still”. Those who rush into battle without doing so run naked on the battlefield. Pretty foolish, right? Before waging war on the enemy, you need to “be still and know that He is God”! As stated in Psalm 45:10-11 (NLT), “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” I believe that David was taking time to “be still” before entering the battlefield.

As the Egyptian chariots stormed toward them and the Red Sea raged in front of them, the children of Israel feared the worst. However, as depicted in Exodus 14:31 (NLT), Moses tells them, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.” All he requested of them was that they “be still”. As a result, as pointed out in Exodus 14:15-18 (NLT), God instructs Moses to raise his staff over the sea that it may split and promises the following: “My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troop, his chariots, and charioteers. When my great glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”. Soon after, as told in Exodus 14:19a (NLT), “then, the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp.” A lot happens when we choose to “be still”. Those who are familiar with the event will know that God miraculously rescued His people. Nonetheless, Psalm 45:10-11 is resonated in this passage. When we choose to “be still”, we are thereby acknowledging the presence of an Almighty God – we invite the Lord of Heaven’s Armies into our midst! By doing so, we are able to draw from His infinite strength and let Him fight for us. It is pretty simple really. All you and I need to do is to just “be still and know that He is God”.

Whether we like it or not, we as humans were designed to be dependent upon our Creator. If we choose to carry our burdens, we risk a system overload. In Matthew 11:28 (NLT), Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Who better to be in control? Who better to be in charge? I am pretty certain that the One Who keeps the planets in orbit rather than letting them spin out of control like marbles which would cause a mega galactic collision is more than a worthy candidate. Would you not agree? Well, it is your choice to make. We can see that David chose to “be still and know that He is God” by separating himself from the others before his faceoff with the giant of Gath. In a world that is bent on keeping us busy, we need those “be still” moments more than ever. Though God is omnipresent, we need to develop a habit of acknowledging His Presence. Acknowledging Him is important since it allows you to realize Who is on your side. It boosts your faith! In that quiet moment before the battle, David was taking time to realize and reflect Who was on His side. As David sang in Psalm 23:4 (KJV), “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” When David walked out there in the valley, he was so pumped up! He stared that Philistine champion in the eye, without flinching, “Hey, listen up, I got God on my side – so guess what, Giant, you’re going down!” David was brazenly fearless! Why? Though he was looking death in the eye, David was not afraid because he knew God was with him. Take Psalm 45:10-11 (NLT) to heart: “Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

Be still and know that He is God!

To be continued…


 

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PUBLISHED BY DANIELLE

Stefanie Danielle Thomas is a determined girl chasing her dreams and following God’s perfect will in her life. In addition, she strives to be both “the jack of all trades” and “the master of many”. She is quite the multitasker (a modern renaissance woman some would say) – family, friends, church, youth girls, pursuing two degrees studying in two universities, traveling, music, art, baking, cooking, writing, gym, chores, volunteering, etc.

Despite her ambitious pursuits, she seeks Christ to be her center. As a famous person once stated, “Rather than being purpose-driven, I prefer to be Presence-centered.” In whatever she does, she simply desires to radiate God’s image and glorify Him.

As the Apostle Paul encourages in 1 Corinthians 10:31(b), “In whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

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  • Norma
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    Dear Danielle, this was truly inspiring, especially when you wrote in the beginning-‘Do not try to imitate someone else’s method but rather follow the leading of the Spirit.’ It spoke to me. I will lean on His Spirit and be still and know that HE is GOD!
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  • Sujatha
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    Thanks for the timely post Danielle…Follow His Leading and Be Still…
    Thanks for making us understand the significance of being Still…
    When we choose to “be still”, we are not weak…rather we acknowledge the presence of an Almighty God – we invite the Lord of Heaven’s Armies into our midst!
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    Thanks for sharing…
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    Thank you so much for sharing, Danielle!!

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      It was my pleasure, Aaron!

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    October 15, 2019

    I’m so pumped reading this!! ❤❤ Thank youu soooo much for this lovely reminder to be still and remember Who is on my side, Danielle!! Lots of love… ☺❤️

    • Stefanie Danielle
      October 18, 2019

      So happy to hear, Jennifer! Hugs and kisses!

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    Encouraging & inspiring Danielle!

    • Stefanie Danielle
      October 18, 2019

      Glad to hear, Amor!!

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    A very insightful revelation Danielle! Especially on David’s stature – always imagined him to be totally opposite to your explanation. Refreshed and inspired 😀
    Thank you for sharing xoxo

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      October 18, 2019

      Happy that you were refreshed and inspired by it, Judy! xoxo

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      Glad to know that you enjoyed it, Yohaan

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    October 14, 2019

    Blessed!

    • Stefanie Danielle
      October 18, 2019

      Glad to hear, Aunty Anne!

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