FAITH CAPSULE: Status or title will not eliminate cheers and jeers from the journey of life.
1 Samuel 18, 2 Samuel 16
The journey of life demands that we do the best and leave the rest. In getting to expected end, journey cannot be separated from the cheers and jeers of life. Jeers and cheers shall definitely come to be. However, maintaining focus in every engagement of life is way to get the clear picture to navigate through without distraction or disruption. It does not matter who you are, cheers are jeers is unavoidable in every journey of life.
David, a man after God’s own heart could not avoid cheers and jeers from sounding in his direction. Philistines and Goliath stood a ground of war against the Israelite. Goliath made a provoking statement, “Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine; they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:8-10) It was the statement of Goliath that provoked David and made David to respond stating, “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?” (1 Samuel 17:26) David eventually engaged and killed Goliath and battle was won by the Israelite.
Victory brought so much cheer for David. The bible recorded the cheers David received, “…when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:6-7)
The same David that was cheered by the Israelites was embarrassingly jeered by the Israelite. While David was still King, the heart of the men of Israel went with Absalom and David had no choice but to vacate the throne and run for his life. As David was fleeing curses and stones were the unimaginable jeers that were thrown at him. (2Samuel 16:5-14) Imagine David, a man after God’s heart having to deal with cheers and jeers but yet remained on track and not get distracted. Maintain your focus and you shall arrive at your destination.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of enablement in every step of life.