My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. (Psalm 27:8)
Throughout my years of walking with the Lord, I have developed a fondness for a specific character in the Bible; a mere man who was far from impeccable, yet a man after God’s own heart. King David was the perfect blend of warrior and worshipper. He understood his place and embraced it with conviction. Though encountering opposition was inevitable, he successfully governed over nations and led valiantly for more than forty years. So what’s the appeal? I believe that deep in all of our hearts there lay an appetite for a similar brand of greatness.
David defeated army after army with unrelenting boldness. He displayed a courage that stirred up jealousy even in the lives of rulers; surely the mark of a noble young tyke, no? I can just picture him standing over the Philistine in triumph as he dripped a bloody mess. However, it was his dependency upon God that served as the root to his every victory. We see in the books of Samuel how David always “inquired of the Lord.” He held fast to God’s direction though at times he didn’t comprehend it. That is what made David such a great warrior.
There is absolutely nothing better than having a time of intimate worship before the Lord. A time of extending our complete devotion to the One who sustains us. David was a worshipper. He would sit on top of a mountain writing poetry, crying “O, God, you are my God”— all this while being pursued by sword wielding men looking to take his life. What could possibly draw one to such an intense commitment?
Perhaps, it was sweet assurance.
David had come to a place of consecration to God that superseded anything he could ever desire or even attempt to exhaust. It was an utter knowing that God is God and He always will be whether we like it or not. This kind of realization is what impels a person to faithful worship.
We must never forget to whom we belong to. David was not born with any of these notable attributes nor did they magically appear. Instead, his character was sharpened when a solid foundation was built. It was the knowledge that he was child of the living God. Only after coming to grips with who we truly are do we stand validated in our Father’s eyes. He can then communicate to our souls what he dreams for us. Is this not the hope of everyone who deems himself a follower of God? We long to reach our full might and potential. Similar to Joshua and the children of Israel, we have an inheritance to claim. In the attaining of this inheritance we are commanded to be “strong and courageous.” Otherwise we may be rendered ineffective. It is our duty to charge forth in a work that is pleasing to God. Not only is it our duty, but there is actually nothing we would rather do.
Dig Deeper:
Today’s Prayer:
Dear God, I want to walk with life with completely confidence and your assurance. Thank you for being true and reliable today and every day.
