The Portion of my Inheritance

I love how the Lord works in our lives, how He reveals Himself to us in the unexpected. How His living Word touches us so completely and so deeply, no stone unturned, to the point that it is a miracle in itself.

If we could truly see all the times that He has hedged us behind and before and laid His hands upon us, we would be astounded! We would be so awestruck by His grace and His love that we would live a totally surrendered life.

Although our physical eyes can not perceive Him all the time, in His mercy He gives us these wonderful glimpses. Just enough to leave your soul begging for more, so satisfied and so wonderfully joyful. He is truly an awesome God.

It has always been for me that in the teaching of others it has been me that walks away with the treasure, the gold nugget that gets stuck right between your breastbone and your heart, wedged in deep. It has always been me that the lesson was for, the unveiling of His love through the beautiful words of His book, the living Word that pours out, drenching my spirit completely through.

It has been throughout our history together, me and Him, together, living and moving and having my being, that I sometimes get it, just an inkling. The knowing that He did it once and He can absolutely do it again.

And it was the young man David that showed me this time. The official but unofficial king, not yet even a man, that walked right up to the famous mighty giant warrior, with sling in hand and His Lord in his heart.

The mighty Israelite army had tucked their tails and scattered, hiding in the hills or anywhere that they felt would bring them safety. And king Saul also trembled with fear over the day and evening bullying of that rascal Goliath. Oh I understand their fear. Fear has a way of wrapping it’s gnarling fingers around my neck and choking the life out of me. And just when I think I have conquered it, my own giants show up and mock me and threatens me and I run for cover, just like the army of Saul.

But young David volunteered for the task of killing Goliath, despite the fear that hung thick that day, an army and king that were dismayed and defeated, despite the the fact that the cards were stacked against him, in every single way possible. Saul pointed out to him that he would not be able to prevail against the giant because he was still a youth and because he was not a warrior, but was indeed a shepherd and Goliath was a experienced man of war. King Saul and his army looked at the physical things of this earth, their strength was in the armies of Israel, but David’s strength was in his Lord.

And when I read the words that David spoke next, everything stopped and I truly heard these words being spoken to me from the mouth of God Himself. I understood immediately what He meant and it was for my heart only.

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it and delivered the lamb from it’s mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by it’s beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. Moreover David said,”The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Sam. 17:34-37)

David was not a part of the trembling army that day, he was set apart for the purpose of the Lord. He did not put his trust in the army, or in the armor of Saul, David completely relied on his God, the One who had delivered him from the paw of the lion. David showed up that day with power and the assurance of the Lord because he had a history with God and David already knew what God could do.

And the stone that David used that day to slay the giant, I suspect was not much bigger than a mustard seed. Goliath came to David with the things of the world, but David came to Goliath in the name of the Lord.

And David’s words to the giant? “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand. (1 Sam. 17:45-46)

These words that David said so long ago were written just for me! And as I read them, this is what I heard:

“My daughter, do not fear, have I not shown you in the past My mighty strength? Have I not always taken care of those that I love so deeply? I have done it before and I will do it again! Remove the fear from your troubled heart and rest in Me, your strong and mighty tower, and just watch what I will do.”

1Sam. 17

You have hedged me behind and before and laid your hand upon me, such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is too high, I cannot obtain it. Ps. 139:5-6

photos are from various children’s bibles