When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28

The Bible does not give us the time lapse between David’s anointing by Samuel as Israel’s future king and the scene that took place in the Valley of Elah. We know, however, that David split time between his anointing and the battle against the Philistines between his father’s sheep farm and the king’s palace, where he played the harp to soothe Saul’s tormented heart.

Jesse’s three oldest sons –Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, had left the farm and enlisted in Saul’s army. Their father was concerned with his sons’ well-being and sent David to check on them and bring them food. As we read on, we watch David arriving at the camp, just to find an entire army trembling in fear at the sight of its powerful enemy, led by a nine-foot-tall giant who dared shout blasphemies against Israel’s God.

They had forgotten Who led their army.

“Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.” 1 Samuel 17:24

David wanted to know more. So, he asked around for details of what was happening and how on earth Israel intended to stop the affront.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v.26)

Eliab – Jesse’s firstborn – was standing nearby, looking at David contemptuously. Anger burned within. “What on earth is this arrogant brat doing here?” – he must have thought. He then took a step forward and decided to stop the nonsense.

“What are you doing here? Where did you leave the sheep? Why are you not doing your job? I know you think you are all that and your heart is wicked. You just want to watch us get a whooping, don’t you?”

You’ll see that my paraphrasing is pretty accurate if you read his words. There’s no question David is not Eliab’s favorite.

But, wait a minute. Think about it.

Jesse’s handsome firstborn had been close to becoming king. When Samuel visited their farm, Eliab was the first son paraded in front of the prophet. Samuel thought he was it. You can picture the prophet’s face light up when he saw the strong-looking, handsome man. Eliab almost felt the first drop of oil fall on his head when Yahweh stopped the prophet in his tracks, redirecting his attention to the next son. And then the next. And the next…

Seven times was Samuel instructed to look on… until his eyes fell upon little David.

To say Eliab resented David is an understatement. The anger in his words says it all. And David’s answer tells us more about this family conflict:

“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” (v.29)

What David really meant to ask was… “what have I done NOW?”

It certainly was not the first time Eliab showed dislike for his little brother. Likewise, by the way that their father almost dismissed David during the King selection process and Eliab’s disdain, there’s no question David was overlooked, underappreciated, and even scorned by his own.

Can you relate?

Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten even? Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?

Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten even? Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?…
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At work, school, and even at home, so many people live daily feeling like no one sees them.

They may be the last player chosen on a team, get passed over for a promotion, or sit alone at a lunch table at school. They may live in a house full of people… and yet, feel hopelessly alone.

They may walk the hallways of our churches, longing for someone to care. Wishing someone would see past their cordial smiles and into their broken lives. Within their hearts, a longing grows as they feel less and less connected to the world around them.

For some… the longing turns into depression, and the depression turns into despair.

“Will anyone ever see me? Listen to me? Want me?”

Can I tell you something?

If today you feel neglected, forgotten and unappreciated, you are in good company. The only character in the Bible who God called “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22) was overlooked, persecuted and underestimated too.

If today you feel neglected, forgotten and unappreciated, you are in good company. The only character in the Bible who God called “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22) was overlooked, persecuted and underestimated too.…
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He was small in stature, and that’s what the world focused on. He was plain in looks, and his profession was not glamorous. And still, Someone more important than his family, his friends and foe alike, saw him.

He.saw.him.

And that was enough for David.

David knew his limitations. He knew he was indeed not “all that.” But he knew the One he loved with all his heart was. And that’s what he anchored his mind and heart on every time the world turned against him.

Yes. That was David’s secret to victory. Whenever despair, persecution, or loneliness haunted him, he invited Yahweh to fill the void.

Yes. That was David's secret to victory. Whenever despair, persecution, or loneliness haunted him, he invited Yahweh to fill the void.
Click To Tweet

It may be that you feel small today. Unwanted. Alone.

King David, the shepherd boy who knew rejection, loneliness and persecution, sings from the pages of Scriptures, reminding your broken heart today:

The One who made you and knows your heart… NEVER forgets you. And there will be times in life when knowing that truth must be enough.

LINKUP PARTY opens on August 17 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open. Today, I share encouragement for those who feel invisible and forgotten as David did before becoming Israel's great king. Join us and share your blog!
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The post Rising Above Rejection, Contempt & Betrayal {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Standing at nearly ten-foot-tall, the man must have looked like an armored tank to young David. He wore a helmet of brass upon his head and a coat of scale armor of about 125 pounds of bronze. The bible describes the armor and war tools in detail, giving us a vivid picture of Goliath’s fearsome stature and strength.

David had come up from Bethlehem with the mere purpose of bringing food to his brothers, who were battling the Philistines in the valley of Elah. But as he arrived at the camp, he heard Goliath’s defiance and blasphemy against Israel’s God.

And just like that, the battle became his.

As David goes before Saul to ask permission to fight Goliath, his small stature surprises the king. He was but a boy, compared to the giant. Saul didn’t see how he could win.

And then David tells him the story.

“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37 NASB)

WOW.

As I read this story for the umpteenth time this morning, my heart filled with new wonder.

I imagine that the whole incident with the lion and the bear back in Bethlehem made more sense to David when he stood before Saul and pled his case that day. The lion and the bear were an instrument, an opportunity disguised as danger. Indeed, David must have realized that the fight with those strong and mighty animals was but an exercise to prepare him to fight the enemies of Israel.

The lion and the bear were an opportunity disguised as danger. David must have realized that the fight with those strong animals was but an exercise to prepare him to fight the enemies of Israel. #RechargeWednesday
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And to equip him to become King.

He knew he couldn’t have killed a lion and a bear… And yet, he did.

There was only one possibility.

His deliverance back in Bethlehem’s pastures did not come from his own strength. It had to be supernatural. God’s own weight brought the wild animals down to protect His anointed one. And now (David knew), beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the same strength and guidance that made him kill the bear and the lion… would be with him in the valley of Elah.

He drew strength from his past… and aimed for the future. With one small round stone, righteous indignation and zealous love for Yahweh, he pointed and shot.

God took that small stone and made it hit Goliath with the weight of a boulder.

God took a small stone and made it hit Goliath with the weight of a boulder. #RechargeWednesday
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“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:46)

Can you picture this small-framed young man standing before the giant with the boldness of a man holding an AR-15?

David drew strength to defy his enemies from the battles he saw God fight in his place. He didn’t draw strength from his own wisdom, his own spower, much less his circumstances. He drew strength from realizing that each time his life was in danger, each time his provision seemed not to be adequate, each time his enemies seemed to be more powerful and his deliverance uncertain, GOD showed up and do what only God can do.

David drew strength from remembering that each time his life was in danger, GOD showed up and do what only God can do. #RechargeWednesday
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Ohhhh! It’s a halleluiah moment on my desk right now!

Because I may not see my future, but I know this much:

The same God who delivered me from the bears and the lions in my past….

The same God who provided manna in my deserts…

The same God who opened the Red Seas of impossibilities before me over and over again…

He’s got this! Praise His Name!

The same God who delivered me from the bears and the lions in my past, provided manna in my deserts, opened the Red Seas of impossibilities before me… He’s got this! Praise His Name!
Click To Tweet

That’s why I can boldly look at any enemy in the eye, and proclaim to any circumstance I may face:

“As for me, everyone will know that there is a God in Heaven and that it is not by worldly measures or power that He saves. For the battle is His, and He will deliver me from these circumstances. Yet, AGAIN!”

LINKUP PARTY opens on Wednesdays at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open. This week, a study on David's battle against the giant brought me a fresh perspective on the reason the shepherd King was fearless to face Goliath. Join us & share your blog!
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The post The Bear and the Lion – Training to Face a Giant {Recharge Wednesday} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28

The Bible does not give us the time lapse between David’s anointing by Samuel as Israel’s future king and the scene that took place in the Valley of Elah. We do know that between his anointing and the battle against the Philistines, David split time between his father’s sheep farm and the king’s palace, where he played the harp to soothe Saul’s tormented heart.

Jesse’s three oldest sons –Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, had left the farm and enlisted in Saul’s army. Their father was concerned with his sons’ well-being and sent David to check on them and bring them food. As we read on, we watch David arriving at the camp, just to find an entire army trembling in fear at the sight of its powerful enemy, led by a nine-foot-tall giant who dared shout blasphemies against Israel’s God.

They forgot Who led their army.

“Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.” 1 Samuel 17:24

David wanted to know more. So, he asked around for details of what was happening, and how on earth Israel intended to stop the affront.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v.26)

Eliab – Jesse’s first born – was standing nearby, looking at David with contempt. Anger burned within. ‘What on earth is this arrogant brat doing here?’ – he must have thought. He then took a step forward and decided to stop the non-sense.

“What are you doing here? Where did you leave the sheep? Why are you not doing your job? I know you think you are all that and your heart is wicked. You just want to watch us get a whooping, don’t you?”

If you read his words, you’ll see my paraphrasing is pretty accurate. There’s no question David is not Eliab’s favorite.

But think about it. Jesse’s handsome firstborn had been close to becoming king. When Samuel visited their farm, Eliab was the first son paraded in front of the prophet. Samuel thought he was it. You can picture the prophet’s face lighten up when he saw the strong-looking, handsome man. Eliab could almost feel the first drop of oil fall on his head, when Yahweh stopped the prophet on his tracks, redirecting his attention to the next son. And then the next. And the next… seven times was Samuel instructed to look on… until his eyes fell upon little David.

To say Eliab resented David is an understatement. The anger in his words says it all. And David’s answer tells us more about this family conflict:

“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” (v.29)

What David really meant to ask was… “what have I done NOW?”

It certainly was not the first time Eliab showed dislike for little brother. By the way their father almost dismissed David during the King selection process and Eliab’s disdain, there’s no question David was overlooked, underappreciated and even scorned by his own.

Can anyone relate?

Have you ever felt unappreciated, neglected, underestimated, perhaps forgotten even? Have you ever thought… If I did not wake up tomorrow, would anyone even miss me? Does my opinion even matter? Will I ever be noticed?

At work, school, and even at home, so many people live every day feeling like no one sees them. They may be the last player chosen on a team, get passed over for a promotion, or sit alone at a lunch table at school. They may live in a house full of people… and yet, feel hopelessly alone.

They may walk the hallways of our churches, longing for someone to care. Wishing someone would see past their cordial smiles… and into their broken lives. Within their hearts, a longing grows, as they feel less and less connected to the world around them.

For some… the longing turns into depression, the depression turns into despair.

“Will anyone ever see me? Listen to me? Want me?”

Can I tell you something?

If today you feel neglected, forgotten and unappreciated, you are in good company. The only character in the Bible who God called “a man after His own heart” (Acts 13:22) was overlooked, persecuted and underestimated too.
Click To Tweet

He was small in stature, and that’s what the world focused on. He was plain in looks and his profession was not glamorous. And still, Someone more important than his family, his friends and foe alike, saw him.

He.saw.him.

And that was enough for David.

David knew his limitations. He knew he was indeed not “all that.” But he knew the One he loved with all his heart… was. And that’s what he anchored his mind and heart on, every time the world turned against him.

Yes. That was David's secret to victory. Whenever despair, persecution or loneliness haunted him, He invited Yahweh to fill the void.
Click To Tweet

It maybe that you feel small today. Unwanted. Alone.

King David, the shepherd boy who knew rejection, loneliness and persecution, sings from the pages of Scriptures… reminding your broken heart today: The One who made you… and knows your heart… NEVER forgets you.
Click To Tweet

The post Rising Above Rejection, Contempt & Heartache (Lessons from a King) appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Standing at nearly ten-foot-tall, the man must have looked like an armored tank to young David. He wore a helmet of brass upon his head and a coat of scale armor of about 125 pounds of bronze. The bible describes the armor and war tools in details, giving us a vivid picture of Goliath’s fearsome stature and strength.

David had come up from Bethlehem with the mere purpose of bringing food to his brothers, who were battling the Philistines in the valley of Elah. But as he arrived at the camp, he heard Goliath’s defiance and blasphemy against Israel’s God.

And thus the battle became his.

As David goes before Saul to ask permission to fight Goliath, his small stature surprises the king. He was but a boy, compared to the giant. Saul didn’t see how he could win.

And then David tells him the story.

“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37 NASB)

WOW.

As I read this story for the umpteenth time this morning, my heart filled with new wonder.

I imagine that the whole incident with the lion and the bear back in Bethlehem made more sense to David when he stood before Saul and pled his case that day.

The lion and the bear were an instrument, an opportunity disguised as danger. Indeed, David must have realized that the fight with those strong and mighty animals were but an exercise to prepare him to fight the enemies of Israel.

And to equip him to become King.

He knew he couldn’t have killed a lion and a bear… And yet, he did.

There was only one possibility.

His deliverance back in Bethlehem’s pastures did not come from his own strength. It had to be supernatural. God’s own weight brought the wild animals down to protect his anointed one.

And now, David knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the same strength and guidance that made him kill the bear and the lion… would be with him in the valley of Elah.

He drew strength from his past… and aimed for the future. With one small round stone, righteous indignation and zealous love for Yahweh, he pointed and shot.

God took that small stone and made it hit Goliath with the weight of a boulder.

“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” (vs.46)

Can you picture this small-framed young man standing before the giant with the boldness of a man holding an AR-15?

I smile because I think of the repeated trials in my life… and how each victory has strengthened my resolve to proclaim to the world:

It’s ok… God’s got this. Been there, done that. Have the T-shirt to prove it.

And the scars to remind me.

David drew strength to defy his enemies from the battles he saw God fight in his place. He didn’t draw strength from his wisdom, his power, much less his circumstances.

He drew strength from realizing that each time his life was in danger, each time his provision seemed not to be adequate, each time his enemies seemed to be more powerful and his deliverance uncertain, GOD would show up and do what only God can do.

Ohhhh! It’s a halleluiah moment on my desk right now!

Because I may not see my future, but I know this much:

The same God who delivered me from the bears and the lions in my past….

The same God who provided manna in my desserts…

The same God who opened the Red Seas of impossibilities before me over and over again…

He’s got this! Praise His Name!

The same God who delivered me from the bears and the lions in my past, the same God who provided manna in my desserts, HE'S GOT THIS!
Click To Tweet

That’s why I can boldly look at any enemy in the eye, and proclaim to any circumstance I may face:

“As for me, everyone will know that there is a God in Heaven and that it is not by worldly measures or power that He saves. For the battle is His, and he will deliver me from this circumstance.

Yet, AGAIN!”

The post The Bear, The Lion {and Your Current Circumstances} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.