Tag: David

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Wisdom Prayer

Those Who Have Confidence!

Those Who Have Confidence!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have confidence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David’s brothers were fighting in Saul’s army. David was tasked by Jesse, his father, with taking his brothers grain and ten loaves. He was also to take ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. He was also to check on his brothers and to bring back some token from them.

David showed up as the battle lines were being drawn, and he hears Goliath challenging a man of Israel to fight him.

1 Samuel 17:26 (ESV)

“And David said to the men who stood by him, ‘What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?’”

Saul sends for David, and in 1 Samuel 17:31-37 (ESV) we learn of their interaction.

“When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.’ And David said, ‘The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’”

So David is about to go out to face the giant with Saul’s blessing. David is confident.

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Wisdom Prayer

Facing Giants!

Facing Giants!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are facing giants in their lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most exciting episodes recorded in the book of 1 Samuel.

Anyone who has ever faced giant-sized opposition can relate to the match-up between a boy with a sling and a few stones as he faces the imposing figure of a giant-sized man.

We are first introduced to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:3-4 when we are told his size.

“And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”

The notes in the English Standard Version of the Bible say a cubit is about eighteen inches. Eighteen inches times six would be about nine feet, and the span of a man’s hand would add about another six inches.

Goliath would have terrified any normal opponent.

David was not a normal opponent.

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Wisdom Prayer

Blessed with Special Gifts!

Blessed with Special Gifts!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those are blessed with special gifts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David was anointed by Samuel and destined to be the next king.

In 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (ESV) we learn how the Lord orchestrated it so David’s special gifts opened the door to allow him to meet and serve King Saul.

“Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, ’Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.’ So Saul said to his servants, ‘Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.’ One of the young men answered, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.’ Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.’ And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, ‘Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.’ And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.”

The hand of God was on David.

David’s ability to play the lyre opened the door, so David’s God-given gift of music could calm King Saul.

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Wisdom Prayer

The Next King!

The Next King!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are obedient to the Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

God had sent Samuel on a mission to find and anoint the next king.

Samuel was obedient and went to Bethlehem.

In 1 Samuel 16:3-5 (ESV) we learn how the events unfolded.

“‘And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.’ 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ And he said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.”

Samuel looked at each of Jesse’s sons who were present (1 Samuel 16:6-9). Then, in 1 Samuel 16:10-13 (ESV), we learn Samuel finds the one he is looking for.

“And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.’ And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

Samuel did as the Lord commanded.

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Wisdom Prayer

Meditate On All The Lord Has Done?

Meditate On All The Lord Has Done?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who meditate on all you have done. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Joshua 1:8 (ESV) says,

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

In Psalm 143:1-6 (ESV) the psalmist, David, is pleading with God for mercy and refers to meditating.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah”

Ever feel like David? Has the enemy pursued your soul? Has he crushed your life to the ground? Has he made you sit in darkness like those long dead? Respond as David did. Meditate. Ponder the works of God’s hands.

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Wisdom Prayer

Incense Before God?

Incense Before God?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who want their prayers to be counted as incense before you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Ever want to make sure God hears your prayers? God is listening to believers and those who sincerely cry out to be saved.

I have heard it said that there are three answers to prayer: “Yes.” “No.” And “Wait.”

In Psalm 141:1-2 (ESV) David, the psalmist, is calling to God and asking him to hear.

“O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!”

Be thankful God is willing and able to hear and answer prayer. What a comfort that is.

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