❤️ of the Matter:
Victory is not an opportunity to boast about what you’ve achieved but a time to be grateful and dedicate your accomplishments to God.
The BIG 📸:
An incredibly talented actor once said that he didn’t keep his Oscar trophy at the house because it might cause him to start speaking in an English accent. In other words, they weren’t sure they could remain grounded, waking up to this object of praise every day. The actor said it in jest, so we don’t know if they followed through with it, but there is wisdom in such a statement.
Throughout the life of King David, we get to witness how a man ought to operate in victory. David appeared to care less for the accolades and more for doing his job well before the Lord.
An indicator of genuine humility is when someone does not seek recognition or praise for their achievements, which goes against today's selfie culture and drawing attention to one's triumphs.
After David was anointed the next King by Samuel, he didn’t hang a sign on his front door to let everyone know the next King lives here. Instead, he went back to doing his job of shepherding the sheep.
David’s Heart:
He worked as a courier during the war while he tended the sheep and carried provisions to his brothers in the army. When he found the entire army intimidated by the giant, Goliath, he wanted to honor the Lord and remove the disgrace from Israel.
When King Saul asked David what made him think he could defeat Goliath. David boasted about God in his life. David told Saul, “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine(1 Samuel 17:37)!”
David continually stood up for the Lord’s honor, magnifying his name and dropping one of the most courageous and dopest lines I have heard dropped on an enemy. Replying to Goliath’s taunts, David said, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us (1 Samuel 17:45-47)!”
David defeated Goliath that day and rather than keeping Goliath’s sword and shield as a trophy, we find out years later that he dedicated it to the Lord (1 Samuel 21:9).
Despite his many military victories, David always gave his treasures back to the Lord. He made doorstoppers of all his grammys.
When on the run from King Saul, David was overheard longing for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:15). Three of his mighty men in company broke through enemy lines, drew some water from the well, returned, and gave it to David. But he refused to drink it. Like the treasures of his career, he poured out the water as an offering to the Lord because of the blood they risked to obtain it for him.
David was a devout believer in God and believed that nothing less than the best use of his time, treasures, and talents was worthy of God. Even at the end of his life, David remained humble. He advised his son, Solomon, to use the treasures and materials he had gathered over the years to build the sanctuary of the Lord instead of creating a statue in an image of the King's glory (1 Chronicles 22:14-16).
The 🍞 of Life:
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. - Romans 12:3-5
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8
True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. - Proverbs 22:4
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips. - Proverbs 27:2
For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. - Psalms 149:4
All seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:10-13
David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” - 1 Samuel 17:26
The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” - 1 Samuel 17:37
“I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.” “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!” - 1 Samuel 21:9
King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations—from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. - 1 Chronicles 18:11
Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.” - 1 Chronicles 22:19
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To Thy Matchless Glory👑