Read I Samuel 17: 17-24
“David, I need you to run an errand. Your brothers are gathered in the Valley of Elah for battle against the Philistines. I’m sure they could use some nourishing food. Plus, I’d like to know how they are holding up. Can you go do that for me please?”
How important is it for a family to have news when members are facing a battle against an enemy? I’m not sure how functional our cell phones would be during a physical battle, but they certainly do in other situations. We want to know how others are doing, especially if we care about them.
Is it interesting how we are told the types of food David was to bring not only to his brothers but also to others in their troops? Grain, bread, and cheese. Why does the Lord want us to know about food?
We not only need food for our physical well-being, but we need spiritual food as well. The Lord uses many parallel types of teaching within scripture to help us understand His principles better. Think about the statement that Jesus is the bread of Life. We need this nourishment within our innermost being, especially when we are facing a battle in our lives.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”. John 6:35
Next, we see that David accepts the errand with diligence. He starts first thing in the morning after making sure that his sheep are taken care of. It wasn’t something his father was to do. No, he took on the full responsibility of ensuring his regular tasks were taken care of when he took on this additional errand for his father.
How early did he need to get up? What all did he need to pull together before leaving? Did he stay up into the night preparing what he could beforehand? Did he know about what time to leave so that he could time when he would reach his destination? Or was it just a coincidence that he would arrive just as the troops were rallying with their battle cry to go out to face the enemy?
Let’s assume it was a clear day, with a gentle breeze brushing past his face as he traveled the road to the battleground. What were his thoughts as he rode? Was he thinking about his brothers? Was he wondering if there was any progress in the battle? Had he heard that they were at a standstill? Was he thinking that he just needed to drop off the food supplies, catch up quickly with his brothers, get some news, and then head back home to the sheep? Did he have any inkling as he completed this errand that he was to embark on an undertaking that would end up in the ultimate history books for countless readers for centuries to come?
As we approach each new day, whether our regular routine or an errand to tackle, how do we approach it? Are we ready to go? Are we dreading it? Do we expect God to be in it?
We have so many examples in Scripture, even in our own lives where situations can go south, so to speak. But to offset this, there are also experiences, even within these same examples where we see the Lord show up in splendor.
As David reaches his destination, he sizes up the atmosphere and environment. The army was headed out to their daily battle position. They start with their battle cry. This has occurred day after day. The army starts another day the same way. Will this day be different? David sees the enthusiasm that still remains as the men head to their positions to face the enemy in this new day.
David makes sure the supplies he brings are taken care of and then runs to the battle line. This is not an occasional stroll or even a fast-paced walk. He runs and finds his brothers. He wants to know what is going on. He greets them. How much time does he have for these greetings and initial catch-up conversations before the giant-man steps forth from the opposing battle line?
Then David starts to witness what his brothers, his nation’s army, and the king have been experiencing for 40 days. A fearsome giant with a defiant mouth threatening the men of his country. He watches as the men around him, who earlier were shouting battle cries now run away in fear.
How many times do we face a situation day after day in which we know we need to tackle something? We are ready to try it again with all we’ve got. We run to the day with a vigorous battle cry, and then when faced with that giant that has been wearing us down, we back away. It may be for various reasons. We may not know how to remedy the situation. We may need someone’s help who has not appeared on the scene yet. We may need a new bit of information to help us understand how to take down the giant. This is a place where wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit can help lead and guide us to understand the timing and the right resources that are required to take the giant down.
And what if we are to be used by the Lord in a special way in this new day?
Did David know that the errand he was to perform would trigger a momentous feat in his life, and for us? How many times do we start a day not knowing what is in store, but God has a special plan for us to fulfill? How did David start his day? How do we start each day?
Whether we are on the battlefield facing the enemy waiting for help to defeat the giant or we are on an errand that will prove to be used by God to defeat a giant, let’s be prepared each day. Let’s look to the Lord for His guidance, direction, help, and even nourishment (remember that food was part of this story too!). We all have different roles each day. Let’s rely on Him to lead us through each new day.
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
