The Résumé

I’ve prepared a Résumé when looking for a job. The résumé was credited to Lenardo de Vinci. The word résumé comes from the French word meaning “summarized” or “summary”. It is used in job searches and designed to summarize a person’s work skills and history.

When Goliath who is over 9’ tall first appears on the scene near the battle lines between the Philistines and the army of Israel, the Israelites are fearful of him. None of them could imagine fighting the giant hand-to-hand combat. David had been keeping his Dad’s sheep and was tasked with taking a CARE Package to his brothers with food from home. As he was there, Goliath came out to jeer at the army of Israel. He was mocking them and challenging them to fight him. He had been doing this for days and every day the men of Israel were fearful. David who is still a young boy offers to fight him. King Saul is deeply concerned and offers David his armor. He evidently also tries to talk him out of it. David gives Saul a glimpse of his résumé. Check this out…

34 But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’

Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.’

45 David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. (1 Samuel 17:34-37; 45-50 NIV)

I believe David had no fear because of his daily routines. He walked with God through fear each day. I believe he was discipline in his practice with the sling and the stones. Goliath was no different than the lion or the bear. I believe that while David was watching the sheep each day, he was setting up targets to hone and practice his skill with the sling. The US Navy SEALS practice consistently and hone their skills in order to be prepared for any type of enemy. After they are trained, much of how they respond is almost instinctive and automatic.

There are times when the discipline takes over in a situation that is a bit out of bounds. I’m still learning every day to discipline myself to depend upon the Lord for everything. He walks with me through the hardest of circumstances and He can celebrate with me the joys of victory.

I want to walk and live a life that is in step with the Lord. I want my responses to bad things and bad people to be consistent with who the Lord has called me to be. I want champion the Presence of God in my life. I want my résumé to speak of my journey with the Lord and His Presence more than any skill I’ve developed in my work life.

Pressing On!

Dwayne