This devotion is the second in the series that parallels the Bible Study series “Centering Jesus: Seeing Jesus at the heart of Scripture” Follow the link to see the rest of the study and the other devotions in this series.
Download a PDF of this devotion here.
David: God’s Plan and Purpose
In the Battle of Agincourt (1415), the army of England took on a French army almost twice their size. Against unbelievable odds and expectations, the English won. It’s a celebrated victory that continues to excite us, as any good “underdog achievement” does. We love to see unlikely heroes emerge in seemingly impossible situations. It’s great to see a winning sports team do well, but it’s even more awesome when we see a statistical favorite toppled. We still marvel at the “miracle on ice” 1980 US hockey team, which managed to beat the Soviet team. These stories give us hope that anything is possible, and we don’t have to give into what appears to be defeat.
The Bible is full of unlikely victories, too. The army of Israel often prevailed against enemies who were far greater in number, because God was guiding them to victory. Gideon led the people to victory against the Midianites with a diminished army and next to no weapons (Judges 6). The people of Israel defeated the city of Jericho simply by marching around the walls. And then there’s David, a Biblical figure recognized by even non-believers as the pinnacle of “underdog heroes.”
The shepherd boy practically ignored by his older brothers, who somehow took down a literal giant with a sling and a stone. We love this account because we see God’s hand in David’s life and continue to see how the Lord blessed His servant. David didn’t appear to be the most likely king in any sense, but God appointed him to be His chosen leader. We might feel insignificant and might not think that we have much to offer, but God uses our lives in ways we can’t even imagine.
The Bible reminds us that God looks at our hearts, rather than any outward impression.
When they came, he (Samuel) looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:6-7
It’s hard, as humans, not to judge based on appearances. But God warns us against doing so. The methods we use to measure value are not the ones He uses. God knows the depths of our hearts. He chooses us and loves us no matter what the world says, and makes the impossible possible. Scripture testifies that David was a man after God’s heart. He followed God’s will, not perfectly. He sinned just like us. Through the Holy Spirit, God is able to use us as vessels to do His work.
Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’3 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
-Acts 13:22
David allowed God to use him. On his own, he wasn’t much more than Jesse’s youngest son. He was the start of the ancestral line that brought forth Jesus. With God’s help, he was a king with numerous victories the created an earthly kingdom, one that reminds us of Jesus’ kingdom that will come and never end.
On your own, you might just be a youngest child, a second chair in the orchestra, or JV player. But God has given you vocations. He can and will use you to bring glory to His name. Maybe you’ll be the next president, or just the local mailman. But God send His Spirit to use those who honor His name.
Prayer: Dear Father God, thank you for the story of David, and the reminder that you look at our hearts rather than outward appearances. Help us to not judge others for the wrong reasons. Guide us to pursue you and to be people after your heart. Use our lives for your glory. In Jesus’s name, Amen
Journal Questions:
- David’s heart is echoed in the words of the Psalms. Do any of these Psalms resonate with you and your emotions?
- In what ways are we swayed to think we have to be the winner and not the underdogs to please God or others?
- How can God use those we don’t expect to share the Gospel?
0 Comments