Daily Devotional for Thusday, July 27

David Arrives at the Army’s Camp

“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner,” 1 Samuel 17:29.

Some people seem to make quite the entrance and David was one of those people.  Different people reacted differently to him.  Eliab, David’s brother, believed that he knew David’s character and motivation. His reaction was less then welcoming. Others welcomed David and talked to him about the issues of the day and their hopes that someone would solve their problem.  David was not a stranger in Saul’s camp.  He had served Saul before but had returned home to take care of his aging father’s estate. 

Most of the time, we don’t really know the location and opportunity where God will use us next.  I think David left the King’s service with an understanding that it was God’s will for him to provide for his father.  When he left Saul, he couldn’t have known that he would face the bear and the lion in defense of his father’s flock or that these incidents would give him the confidence to fight Goliath.

God has given each of us, in this very moment, all that we need to accomplish what He purposes in this moment.  We can enter the camp with a confidence in our heart that we are prepared.  Others may perceive that confidence as pride, and we should be careful that we maintain a humility of spirit.  If we are simply ready to do the job with the thought of executing excellently for Jesus, we can echo David’s words, “What have I done?”  He was right; God had a cause that was worth his time and attention.  Enter the camp eager to see what God will do in your life.

THOUGHT: Am I allowing the perceptions of others to interfere with God’s plan for my life?

 David Thompson