David, The Protector

DAVID, the protector of what was entrusted to him

At an earlier time in his life, before the fame and glory hit, David tended his father’s sheep.

Now, David was not his father’s favorite son, infect, the leaving out of David in the line up of Jesse’s sons makes one cringe.

It would almost appear that David’s father had written David off and wanted him as far from him as possible. So, he did the noble thing, keep him out of my sight very far away in the wilderness where bears and lions live. Makes one think, what really was the intention of Jesse sending his son to the wilderness. Ok. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that the lions and bears strayed away from their territories.

Now David under these circumstances could have hated his father and taken out his anger on the sheep. But he didn’t.

David honored his father. When his father sent for him, David answered and appeared before him. When he heard that his father’s house would be exempt from tax, David saw it as an added incentive to fight goliath.

The way his brothers spoke to him shows you one thing, they despised David from the bottom of their hearts and saw him as a nuisance. However, David did not keep these things or anything against them. They were his immediate family.

Back to David and the sheep. These sheep were not David’s. David could have cared less. He should have cared less based on his circumstances and the treatment meted out on him by his family. But he didn’t.

It looks like the attacks on the sheep happened more than once according to 1 Samuel 17;35. Each time, David, it would appear without second thought, defended the sheep of his father.

And according to that scripture, the sheep were already secure in the predators jaws. David could have said “ well, too bad, that’s gone” but he didn’t. He was not prepared to lose even one sheep of his father.

David could have frozen in fear and safely herded the rest of the sheep away from the predator, but he didn’t. He left the other sheep and went for this lamb that was stuck in the predator’s mouth.

Some things to note.

1. Do your responsibility regardless of the way others treat you. Especially in the body of CHRIST. W e have too many vengeful and complaining Christians. Busy complaining and hating as the devil devours the sheep. Our SAVIOR is called The Son of David. HE does not like shepherds who let devils devour HIS sheep. HE expects the shepherds to wage war against the enemy. Ephesians 6; 12. Look at the wording of this scripture, we fight not, implying a present ongoing battle. If you are not fighting, what are you doing? Especially, if you are a Pastor or some other minister. You may ask, how I fight the devil. Pray. Pray for your sheep. You ask how? Simple, for starters. Ask GOD to bless and protect them preferably by name. If you know about their specific troubles mention them before The LORD relentlessly without tiring. You could also pray like this: O LORD, deliver so and so from xyz. You will notice that as you continue, The HOLY SPIRIT will come in , help you and direct your prayer further. But you have to start somewhere and keep going.

2. Don’t fear the predator! The enemy is just a roaming lion. Have you ever heard a lion roar? I have it from reliable sources that he genuine roar of a lion causes the ground to shake and cause other animals to shake with fear. Especially in areas where livestock are kept. I also have been reliably informed that once a lion or any other predator gets used to eating your stuff without being stopped, you will soon find yourself without any sheep. True, the enemy may make all sorts of noises that terrify and threaten to root you to the ground but be like David, be courageous and pursue, you will recover what the enemy took from you.

3. Go after your stuff, even if it looks like its gone for sure. Even when you see that it has been swallowed, rip the stomach of the lion and get your stuff, nurse it back to health. In a nutshell, don’t give up. JESUS died and went to hell to get the keys of life and death from satan. They were HIS in the beginning, we lost them, HE went for them got them. Now its up to you, at least show that you want these things. Surely, you can go after your peace of mind, your loved one, your possession.

Courage brother, do not stumble. Though the path be dark as night. There is a star to guide the humble. Trust in GOD and do the right.