One the great heroes of the Bible is David. I love this guy. Courage, passion, honor-he has it all (including some serious sin!). God said he found in him “a man after his own heart.” Even in terrible circumstances, he lived as a champion. Even after a horrible sin, he did the right thing and God restored him. His life is in the Bible because God wants us to examine and glean things that will encourage us, and make us great men and women for Him, too.
I believe it was because David understood what had value and what was important to God. He honored God. When David arrived to see the pseudo-battle with the giant Goliath, he was appalled at the words of the Philistine giant. They were words that mocked God. David took the initiative and challenged the giant.
David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” – 1 Samuel 17:26 (NIV)
His brothers had been there for weeks with no such attitude. Have you ever noticed that some people LOOK FOR opportunities to make a difference for God, and others run from it like the plague? David was one of those guys who were not willing to just stand by and let life go on without his input. God saw that heart and honored David. Some people don’t go to church to honor Him, nor are they faithful to their commitments, but they expect their family to somehow just come out right. A father dishonors God in his home, but expects his children to honor him. It is not going to happen. A wife rags on her husband and belittles him and wonders why her children do not obey her. It is about honor.
Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares…those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed. – 1 Samuel 2:30 (NASB95)
These people who honor God do something else too. They focus on God and encourage others. In the story with Goliath, the king, who has been cowering for weeks also, hears of this young man David and calls for him. David responds to the king and encourages him!
What David had said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine”. – 1 Samuel 2:31-32
Losers are always thinking about themselves – how they feel about this and that, how somebody hurt them, what they might lose. Champions think of adding value to others –constantly. Losers think of themselves-constantly.
David is a great example to us. When we honor God and the things of God, our whole attitude about life changes, and He blesses and honors us.