“The Lord is my light and my strength; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
One of the most extraordinary figures mentioned time and again in the Scriptures is David. He stands out among the masses as being unique in a time in history when life, even one’s existence, was very difficult to maintain. With very few modern conveniences, provisions, and protective mechanisms fixed into the culture, and in particular, with regard to resources at hand to do so, David, from a very young man was challenged again and again by his adversaries, even the enemies of God. But why did he rise above all around him, not in some selfish and oppressive manner, but by being a shepherd of sheep, a leader and servant of God in Israel, a commander, and in particular, a witness of what he learned of God. Though David was very intelligent, and equipped with great gifts and natural abilities, it was not because of his appearance that God chose him. It was by what God declared to Samuel the prophet: “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
In the book of Acts, Paul, in a discourse to believers in Antioch in Pisidia, spoke of David, using the Lord’s words: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will.” (13:22) So, here is a young man, who was chosen by God by what He saw in David’s heart. He was anointed by Samuel, and immediately the Spirit of God came upon David. That anointing was the key to his life, for nothing would be able to be accomplished, whether by word or deed acceptable to God, except it be by the Spirit. One of the first manifestations of the anointing was the strengthening of David. He did not receive strength from God by the Spirit, manifested in like manner as revealed in the life of Samson. But he did receive strength to kill a bear, a lion, and finally, Goliath. From that point on, the “strength” of God was operative in him, not only in his training to become king, and that, fleeing from Saul the King, and fighting the enemies of God at the same time, but he would begin to write psalms, or spiritual songs, which communicated with increasing depth, the fellowship that he had with God. Although the times were particularly trying, as he was misunderstood, rejected, even abandoned by many, he learned in real time what it meant to trust God, according to the commandments and promises of God, especially with regard to the matter of strength. God, Chriist, would become to him, not only a very present help, but a very present strength, to overcome all resistance in order to glorify God. It is in Psalm 18 that we find David declaring something of the inner workings of his heart, and the appropriation of Christ as his strength. He wrote: “I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (v.1,2) He goes on in a very practical way to declare: “For by Thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” (v.29) He continues by writing, “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.” (v. 32)
In the New Testament, in particular, in the letters of Paul, all believers in Christ are brought clearly before the reality that Christ IS our strength, and that His strength is communicated to the soul, spirit, and body, by the Spirit of God. David’s secret was appropriation, taking by faith the truth which was revealed to him by God. God was his strength, no one nor anything else. Paul wrote: “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might.” (Eph. 6:10)
Dear Father, Strengthen our faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.