Who Am I?

                                                                             

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. 1 Samuel 17:50

Overlooked

   David was doing his job watching the sheep when suddenly there was a shout from his oldest brother Eliab. “David, come! The prophet Samuel is here with father and he wants to meet you!”

David quickly scampered down the hill and to his father. All his brothers were standing before the old man, the prophet Samuel. Samuel moved toward him. In his hand was a horn filled with oil which he promptly emptied on David’s head. He had been anointed by the great prophet Samuel in front of his father and all his brothers. “Had they been anointed too?” He thought. “No, only he had, and the others were looking at him disapprovingly.”

David would find out later that his father had called all his brothers, except for him, and they had all been looked over by The Prophet but none had been chosen to be anointed. He was neither angry nor surprised that he’d been overlooked by his father. After all he, was the youngest of the brothers and as such had the least natural right to be picked by Samuel. He was content with who he was. He knew God. What more could one ask for in life?

Have you ever been overlooked? It’s a terrible thing to know that you have the skills to do a job but someone else was selected over you.

Years ago, God began to impress his calling upon me to be more active as a minister. Our church was approaching the time of our annual international convention, when many missionaries and pastors from churches in the U.S and overseas would return home to Baltimore, MD. It was the biggest event the church hosted all year. I decided to take the week off to assist the head pastor. “He would need my help” I thought, and I would be there for him at his side. I let him know of my availability. A week later one of the chief organizers of the conference said to me, “I hear you are available to help for the week of the convention.” “Yes, I said.” The organizer then replied, “We were hoping you could run the convention bookstore for the week.” I said I would consider it, knowing the whole time there must be a mistake. I had a higher calling. I was certainly meant to be by the pastor’s side helping him. I called the pastor and told him what had transpired. I was shocked when he said, “It shows how highly that you are thought of to be asked to fulfill such an important role.” Right then I realized it was most likely the pastor who, knowing I was available for the week, suggested the organizer ask me to run the bookstore. For a moment or two I felt overlooked, but then I decided to embrace the idea. I said yes and began right away to organize a team. Finding cases upon cases of books storage in closets, we pulled them all out and along with the existing stock sold all the books, tapes, t-shirts, CDs and every other thing that was there. We pulled in thousands of dollars on good discounted merchandise that blessed the conference attendees, and helped the church budget.

Feeling overlooked is nothing new. It happens often. When it does, let it pass over you like a flying dodge ball. Never leave it up to someone else to discover your strengths, gifts and talents. It may never happen. When you see something that needs changing, change it. Be ready to be used by God because you don’t know when your time will come. It’s your job to be encouraged by the Lord, to shine and be motivated by the fact that He knows who you are and what you can do. After all, He made you.

 Misunderstood

   David brought food to his three brothers and to their captains who were engaged in battle against the Philistine army. When he heard the insults of the Philistine champion, Goliath, he wasn’t pleased, and he noticed an intense apprehension among the soldiers. Everyone backed away when Goliath spoke his curses. Fear was thick like smoke in the air. David heard some soldiers say, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely, he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” (a) The boy quickly picked up on these words. “Can you repeat that?” He said.  His brother Eliab was not happy. He saw his brother as a punk. He wondered why Samuel had anointed him, the youngest of the brood. He accused the shepherd of being prideful and just wanting to come to see the battle. He misunderstood his inquiry.

Though David was interested in the battle and was asked to bring news to his father about it, there was much more to this lad. Wanting to defend himself to Eliab he realized it was no use, so he ignored him and went on asking questions. “It’s not right for the army of Israel to live in fear” he thought. He just wanted to help.

I have watched more than a few Hallmark movies sitting next to my wife with a box of tissues on our living room couch. It seems although there are many variations, that the basic formula for each movie is about the same. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl falls in love with boy. Girl sees boy with another girl and assumes boy is in love with that girl and not her. A break-up ensues. All is lost and we are destined for a sad ending to the movie. But alas something happens to cause the hurt and disillusioned girl to realize that she had misunderstood the situation. Boy is not in love with the other girl. All is not lost. Boy and girl realize they are still in love. Wedding bells are ringing in the distance. The end.

Being misunderstood and having people question your intentions is a hard thing to endure, but be ready for it. Not everyone will trust you, and many will question your motives as did Eliab concerning his brother’s inquiries about what the king had promised for the one who would kill Goliath. It’s interesting to note that none of King Saul’s mighty warriors had volunteered to go out and fight the daunting foe, even with such a booty awaiting them if they won. “The race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong.” 

Underestimated

   Eventually David’s words caused a stir in the Israelite camp. King Saul heard them but quickly looked at David and assessed that he was not able to defeat Goliath who was a “man of war from his youth.” But David fought back. He made an argument for going. He placed all his trust in the Lord. Saul could not stand in his way. Even though no one thought David could beat Goliath, and most were getting their running shoes on for a fast retreat, David would not be underestimated. His question was, “How can God lose?” David didn’t feel slighted because he was underestimated by his king. Instead he was undeterred and had an expectation that God would help him win the battle.

At this juncture in his life, Saul is a picture of failure. Here is the man who stood head and shoulders above every man in Israel. He was the natural leader, yet he was crushed under the weight of indecision and fear. Saul’s faith had left him because he didn’t keep God as his strength. He was more interested in numbers and strategy for he thought those were the things that would bring victory. He would observe a boy that day who was much more of a man then he was, not because of his strength, but because his mind was thinking right.  These were David’s thoughts: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (c)

The faith that we see in David is not unfounded. It’s based on his experience with God. David drew on that experience. The Lord helped him defeat the lion and the bear. When he tried on Saul’s armor it didn’t feel right. Saul’s strength did not translate to David. Though we appreciate the mentoring and help we receive from others, there comes a time where we must walk with God alone. This was that time for David. That time will come for you. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (d)  Be willing to speak in faith. Believe the impossible. Testify to what God has done in your life. He was the same God then as He is now. He never changes.

Mocked

   David took his familiar staff, the same staff he used to herd his father’s sheep, and knelt to take five smooth stones from a brook. He put them in his shepherd’s bag. He also had his sling. Nothing he brought to the battle was unfamiliar. They were the tools he used every day. He then ran toward Goliath. It would not be a battle of sword and shield, but one of faith and confidence.

The mockery began as Goliath, who was used to mighty men running from him, marveled at the sight of little David running toward him. “How stupid are these Israelites sending this child to fight me.” He thought. “I will eat him for a snack!” He poured out insults at David and at Israel. It seemed to him and probably to everyone in the Philistine army, and most, if not all in Israel’s, that his mockery was merited. Really Saul? You’re going to let this kid fight a mighty man of war? What about you? You chicken!

Boldness becomes the child of God. When your life is intertwined with the Word of God you live in a new reality. It is a reality that can’t be mocked. It is a truth unseen by most believers and unbelievers alike. Don’t miss it. God will give you opportunities to let his light shine through you. Let Him shine. Close your mouth and let Him speak. Lift your hands and let Him work. Move your feet and run at your enemy. All the mockery thrown at you will come to nothing. Let the world spit. Let those closest discourage you. David took Goliath’s own words and used them against him. Do the same! Let the  mocker be mocked. Move toward Goliath with no fear and watch him fall. Your enemy will become irrelevant in the face of faith.

David was overlooked by his father, misunderstood by his brother, underestimated by his king and mocked by his enemy. Though he suffered through it, trying to be understood, he in the end prevailed because he knew who he was. He was a child of God.

You may feel overlooked, misunderstood, underestimated and even mocked. Do what David did. Look to the Lord for your identity. Then build yourself up in the truth of what God’s own words say about you. When the Devil mocks you in whatever form he presents himself, mock him back!