By Sister Shirley Tarpley
“And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed (tried) to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 1 Samuel 17:39 (KJV)
Numerous people (and I am certain that all Christians) have heard the story of David and Goliath, the giant champion of Philistine; he was 9‘and 9” tall and he had a brass coat and a brass helmet on his head. The Israelites were afraid of him.
David, the youngest son of Jesse was a young shepherd boy; he heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. The Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day give me a man, that we may fight together.” 1 Samuel 17:10 (KJV). And no one volunteered to fight except David.
Goliath was offended when David came to fight him and threaten to feed David’s flesh to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the fields. But David said to the Philistine, “. . . Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee, and I will give the carcases of the host Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beast of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:45 & 46. (KJV)
King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor. He gave it back to king Saul.
God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to the strengths and abilities that He has given us. David knew who he was and who he wasn’t. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul’s armor.
Think about the gifts and talents that God has given to you. Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else’s gifts or talents. Jesus also used the gifts and talents of the men He picked to be His disciples.
However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough. Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God’s power is released and manifested in the physical realm.
Sometimes we admire the talents of others and seek to emulate them. The temptation arises to be someone we are not. This is a mistake. Allow God to live His life through the unique you and you will be successful because you will be sure of your shield of God. Winston Churchill said, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
When you use your God given unique gifts and talents it will be the right decision. And, you must use your faith to know your shield (armor) and receive the power that God will give you.
It has been said that if you let God choose for you, it will be the right decision. If you let God guide you, it will be the right direction. If you let God plan for you, it will be in the right timing. If you let God measure for you, it will be the right portion. If you let God help you, it will be the right care. If you let God instruct you, it will be the right teaching. If you let God prepare you, it will be the right training. If you let God counsel you, it will be the right perspective. If you let God fight for you, it will be the right outcome. If you let God work in you, it will be the right result.
With so much turmoil in the world today (killings of babies, family members and various other people; robberies, accidents caused by alcohol, drug overdoses, etc. it is good for Christians to remember “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. (KJV)
