Asking Directions
I’ve never really been great at asking directions. I’ve been told that it’s a guy thing. We are a bit confident and maybe prideful that we can find our own way without directions. I’m really thankful for Siri and the GPS on my phone. I can really go places with confidence rather quickly that otherwise might take me a minute with a map. One of the reasons that I don’t like to ask for directions is because everyone gives directions very differently. I’m really just making excuses now – LOL.
David has just been anointed King over all of Israel. He had previously been King of Judah – the largest family tribe in Israel. He was now king over all Israel. His first act of business was to conquer Jerusalem and remove the Jebusites. This was a fortified city and David moved in and made it the capitol city.
The Philistines were the nemeses of Israel and when they heard that he was now King at the ripe old age of 30, the came to attack David and all of Israel. Check this out….
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David enquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?’
The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.’ So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David enquired of the Lord, and he answered, ‘Do not go straight up, but circle round behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.’ 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. (2 Samuel 5:18-25 NIV)
I love how David asked the Lord first about taking on the Philistines. The Lord was clearly with David and his leadership. I believe David’s influence and leadership excelled because he was asking God for directions. He could have “gone with his gut” and possibly been successful. He was profoundly successful because He asked the Lord for directions and the Lord went before Him and fought for him.
I would be wise to ask God for directions in every area of my life. I’ve even been known to ask Him what I should eat and what clothes I should wear. I believe that the Lord loves it when I depend on Him for everything. He speaks into my life and into my heart and gives me step-by-step directions. My role comes in three steps: 1. Ask Him for directions. 2 Listen to His directions. 3. Follow His directions. David came out looking like a brilliant commander in battle, but the Lord really made David successful by leading Him and speaking directions into him. David was brilliant because He followed the Lord’s directions. This is how I want to live and lead – asking directions of the Lord about everything.
Pressing On!
Dwayne