First Things First

Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.” 1 Samuel 17:46-47 HCSB

While serving as the Youth Ministry Consultant for the Missouri Baptist Convention I was responsible for a youth camp at Windermere on the Lake of the Ozarks. We had three weeks of camp that ran back to back with about 500 people each week that came to Windermere from across Missouri and outside the state. It was always an exciting time as we saw the Lord move in the lives of many teenagers. One year the theme for the camp was “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” and we used the song by the same title as our theme song.

David was not intimidated by the size of Goliath or his taunting words. He just responded that the battle belonged to the Lord and that He would hand Goliath and the whole Philistine army over to the Israelites. I can imagine Goliath just laughing when David said that he would strike him down and cut off his head. Goliath was confident in his own strength, but David was confident in the strength of the Lord and knew that He would win the battle.

Challenge: Remember that the battle belongs to the Lord if you will only turn it over to Him and allow Him to take control of your life and whatever challenges you are facing. Listen to the song “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” by Petra on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPOyh17R6L4

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!” 1 Samuel 17:42-44 HCSB

As a young boy I was sort of the nerd in the crowd and others would make fun of me and call me names. I have observed others being ridiculed and called names as a way of being taunted. God loves everyone, even the nerds, handicapped, and those who are a little different. He wants to protect those who may not be a part of the crowd.

When David came out to fight Goliath, I can just image how Goliath must have laughed, taunted, and called David names. He even cursed David and told him that he would give his flesh to the birds of the sky and to wild beasts.

Challenge: Know that even if others make fun of you, as a Christian, God cares about you and what you are going through. He is on your side and will give you the strength needed to face the difficulties the world presents.

David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.” 1 Samuel 17:34-37 HCSB

We have all heard personal accounts and tales from others and have wondered if they were really telling the truth. Their stories seemed impossible and unbelievable. The story of David killing lions and bears with his bare hands must have seemed like a fantasy story to Saul. How could a young boy kill a lion and a bear? Obviously, God gave David supernatural power, strength, and ability to be able to accomplish such a great feat.

Since David had previously experienced the protection and power of God, he was confident that God could and would protect him from the Philistine giant, Goliath. The size of Goliath did not concern David because he knew that his God was bigger and more powerful than any giant. He had confidence that God would provide the same power and ability to deliver him from the hand of Goliath.

Challenge: Do you have confidence in God? Why do people lack confidence in God? You will have more confidence as you remember how God has previously worked in your life. Keep a diary of your prayer requests and record when and how God answered each request. Periodically look back at your diary to see how God is working in your life. You can have confidence in God and what He says in His Word.

But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.” 1 Samuel 17:33 HCSB

How many times have you been surprised by the abilities of someone? Pete Maravich was one of the greatest basketball players of all time and was only 6 foot 5 inches and 197 pounds (small for basketball players). He was the point guard for LSU and other players have noted that he is the best ball handler of all times. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division 1 scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game. All of his accomplishments were achieved before the three-point line and the shot clock were introduced, and he was unable to play on the varsity team as a freshman under the then-NCAA rules. Just looking at Pete Maravich, most people would not assess that he was one of the greatest basketball players of all-times.

Saul looked at David and all he saw was a small shepherd boy that was not very old and had not been trained as a warrior. Saul assumed there was no way David could go up against Goliath and stand a chance of winning the battle. David was just a youth.

Challenge: How many times do we look at someone and judge him by his outward appearance? God looks on the inside. He is more concerned about the condition of one’s heart than his physical appearance. We too should be looking beyond physical appearance. The other point of this story is that with God all things are possible.

David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” 1 Samuel 16:13 HCSB

What is causing you to be discouraged? What “giants” are you facing in your life? We all have challenges that we face. It might be the loss of a job, a wayward child, a sickness, or even a marriage that is falling apart. Life is filled with “giants”. We live in a world that has difficulties caused by the sins of mankind. There will always be problems. Different people have varied problems and things are always changing, but we can have confidence in God who never changes. He loves us and cares about the “giants” we are facing.

Saul and the army of Israel were afraid of Goliath, the Philistine warrior. He had challenged any warrior from the Israelite army to come out and fight him. The challenge seemed overwhelming. Goliath was probably about nine feet tall. Nobody in the Israel army even came close to his size. Saul and the army were discouraged because they did not know what to do. Nobody but David had the confidence that they could defeat Goliath.

Challenge: Have the “giants” in your life caused you to be discouraged? Have you wondered what you should do? God knows exactly what to do. With Him you can defeat any “giant” that you are facing. God can provide the confidence you need to face your problem even if it seems bigger than you can handle. Ask God to help you defeat whatever “giant” you are facing today.

So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:13 HCSB

One of the special times in my life was when I was ordained to the Gospel Ministry. Ordination is a way of recognizing that a person has been called to special service to the Lord. The candidate for ordination is questioned by an ordination council made up of deacons and ministers about his salvation experience, his call to ministry, and his beliefs. The council makes a recommendation to the church to ordain the candidate. Once the person is approved by the church for ordination, a special ordination service is planned when the deacons and ministers lay hands on the candidate’s head and pray for him. A person is selected by the candidate to preach the ordination sermon. My father, who was a minister, was the person I selected to preach my ordination service sermon.

Samuel anointed David with oil as a way of setting him apart for special service to the Lord. The anointing of oil usually stood for holiness. It was used to set people or objects apart for God’s service. Each king and high priest of Israel was anointed with oil. This act commissioned David as the next king of Israel, but it was done in secret. Saul was still the king while God was preparing David for his future responsibilities. David would later be publicly anointed as the king of Israel.

Challenge: Pray for those who serve your church as ministers. They have numerous responsibilities that often go unappreciated. Ministers frequently hear complaints from church members but seldom hear very many compliments. They do not serve for compliments or words of praise, but it is always a blessing to know they are appreciated. Send your minister a note of thanks and encouragement today.

Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” 1 Samuel 16:11 HCSB

The NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament is one of my favorite times of the year. I especially enjoy watching the underdog teams play a team that should easily defeat them. The underdog team usually plays with more energy and determination which sometimes makes up for the lack of skill and ability they have as compared to the other team. In 1982 the powerful and talented University of Kentucky basketball team coached by Joe B. Hall and ranked 15th in the nation went up against the small and unranked Middle Tennessee State University team from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Everyone expected Kentucky to easily defeat MTSU, but at half time the score was tied. Surprisingly, MTSU went on to defeat Kentucky by a score of 50-44.

Just as MTSU was an unlikely candidate to win the game, David was an unlikely candidate to be anointed as the next king of Israel. He was the youngest of all of Jesse’s sons. Jesse did not even bother to present him to Samuel because to Jesse there was not even a chance that David would be selected. But many times God uses the most unlikely person to accomplish God-sized tasks.

David Ring was born with cerebral palsy and at age 14 he was orphaned and was cast about from one foster family to another. Who would think that David would be a nationally known motivational speaker and evangelist? He shares his story with over 100,000 people every year. No one would have picked David Ring to be used of God and no one would have picked David the shepherd boy to be the one that God would choose as King of Israel.

Challenge: If you don’t think you can be used of God, then think again and look at the many examples of people in the Bible that God used to accomplish great things. He can use you in the same way if you will only yield your life to Him and follow His direction.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 HCSB

As a youth pastor I emphasized the importance of looking beyond the physical appearance of others. Teens are so caught up in wanting to look like others that they often place an importance on physical appearance. The world places an emphasis on the three “B’s”. 1. Beauty; 2. Brains; and 3. Bucks. The world says a person must look good, be smart, and have money if he is going to be a person of worth and admiration.

This Scripture makes it clear that God does not look at the outward appearance. In fact, he instructed Samuel to not judge the sons of Jesse by their stature and good looks. Saul was tall and handsome, and certainly Samuel must have been looking for someone who looked like Saul to be the new king. When we judge people by their outward appearance, we often overlook their inner qualities. Outward appearances do not reflect what a person is really like or what he is capable of doing. Fortunately, God judges people by their faith and character and not by their outward appearance.

Challenge: Keep a record of the amount of time you spend this week maintaining your outward appearance as compared to the amount of time you spend maintaining and developing your inner character and qualities. Only you and God know your heart.What steps will you take this week to improve and develop your heart’s appearance?

“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 1 Samuel 16:5 HCSB

While traveling in Israel I observed that the Orthodox Jews that visited the western wall of the temple (often called the Wailing Wall because as the people rock back and forth and pray it sounds like they are wailing) would wash their hands and sometimes their faces as way of cleansing and purifying themselves before they approached the western wall to pray.

The Israelites were to perform a purification ceremony before making a sacrifice or witnessing a great act of God. God’s laws indicated that a person could become unclean in a variety of ways – even eating certain foods or touching a dead person. God used these laws as a way to illustrate the impurity of man. Our sin makes us unclean and we must be purified and made holy so we can approach a Holy God.

Samuel consecrated or purified Jesse and his sons so they could participate in the sacrifice to the Lord. The Scriptures do not record exactly what Samuel did, but we know that Samuel performed some type of purification ceremony. The word consecrate has the meaning of being set aside for a holy or sacred purpose.

Challenge: We must approach God with a pure heart. Consecrate yourself by confessing your sins before the Lord and asking for forgiveness. The Scriptures say in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” God is more concerned about our hearts and our attitudes being clean and pure than our physical cleanliness. How clean is your heart?

Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” 1 Samuel 16:4 HCSB

I just returned from vacationing with my family in Fort Morgan, Alabama. On the trip home I used a GPS app on my phone that provided directions on the proper route to take. When we first started out, I was in an unfamiliar location and I depended on the directions from the GPS to guide me to the main highway. Once on the main highway, I left the GPS on because it detected traffic jams, accidents, and other dangers and then alerted us. It even gave us directions to route around an accident or road construction on the main highway. I was not sure what the problem was ahead, but I trusted the GPS and took the exit off of the interstate, knowing that it was providing a better route.

Much like my dependence upon the GPS, Samuel trusted and followed God’s directions. He did not question the directions God provided and went to Bethlehem to anoint a new king of Israel. There have been a few times I have trusted the GPS and it has taken me to the wrong location. We can always trust God, however, to give us good direction.

Challenge: You can find direction from God in four different ways: 1. Read God’s Word; 2. Spend time in prayer seeking God’s direction and listening to what He has to say; 3. Seek advice and input from trusted Christian friends; and 4. Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in your life as He impresses on you what is right and wrong. God will use one or all of these methods to show you His plan and direction for your life.