Perceive: What a difference perspective makes. Most of the men watching this battle saw a huge, fierce warrior. David saw a mere man who was defying the army of the living God. He knew if he faced Goliath he was not alone. God had sustained him in the past and provided him with an ongoing faith experience for the future. Through his know-how in the field, he acquired a confidence in God for his one-on-one battle with Goliath. He knew the Lord would fight with him.
 
Practice:  The men of Israel viewed the situation as impossible; David viewed the situation from a godly perspective. Viewing difficult situations from God's view, helps us put seemingly impossible situations in the right context. Once a man sees his unbelievable circumstance and recognizes his battle lines, he can wage physical and spiritual warfare more effectively. While the rest of the army stood in fear, David readied to act. With God on his side, there was no reason to wait. What situations are you facing today that could be preparing you for the future?
 
Pray: O Lord, give me the courage to face the giants in my life. Help me see them from Your perspective with a spirit of courage. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Up to this point, the army of Israel viewed this situation from what they “felt” was a military problem. How ironic that a mere shepherd and the youngest of eight sons was the one who notes the theological implications of this warfare.  His main question was very telling, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” David’s question irritated his brothers, especially Eliab. Eliab misunderstood and angrily questioned David’s motives for coming down to the battlefield (28). They were ungrateful older brothers, who criticized him for leaving the sheep and misjudged his motives for being there.
 
Practice:  The spirit of the brothers is like that of Joseph’s brothers who held “the dreamer” in such hatred.  When Satan wants to hinder a work of God, he always has somebody point out methods and means that are less productive or made to feel inadequate for the task. They probably pictured themselves as seasoned warriors with David as a naïve teenager. David’s willingness to address the situation convicted them and highlighted their inadequacies. Had Samuel listened to Eliab talk to David, he would have known why God rejected him as a king (1 Samuel 16:7). When people try to discourage you with disapproval or ridicule, continue to do what is right. It is more important to please God than to please men.
 
Pray: Lord, help me to see critical remarks as you see them. For those that benefit me, enable me to hear and receive. For those that are designed to hurt, enable me to consider the source and react with godliness.

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: David was the kind of young man to discharge his father's request to leave the sheep faithfully and personally carry provisions for his older brothers. God’s foresight brought him to the camp at the perfect time to see both sides lined up in battle array. Both sides were preparing to fight. It is another great example of our amazing God using time and circumstances in His will for individuals and nations, especially men after his own heart.
 
Practice:  One can only imagine how David’s emotions ran wild at seeing and hearing this huge warrior taunt the army of Israel. Goliath was bold and daring. For forty days he appeared on the battle line and renewed his challenge, no doubt imagining that his size and experience would bring him glory and victory. The men of Israel were acting timid and filled with fear, and they all ran away. There are moments to retreat and moments to advance. David ran to the battle! Compared to a big God, he was facing a small giant. Little did our hero realize he was about to move from anonymity to national fame. His life would never be the same.
 
Pray: Lord, help me to size up my problems and keep them in a proper perspective. A perspective that realizes we live in a small world, and You are a big God. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: One practice by ancient armies was to decide the outcome of war through chosen warriors. These champions would meet in the middle, fight each other, and the winner would decide the fate of the combat. This type of warfare reduced the amount of bloodshed and loss of life. Saul’s army is facing an encounter with the Philistines championed by a giant named Goliath. Goliath taunts the army of God; especially it’s fearful king. Goliath was about nine feet tall and appeared invincible to the entire army. No doubt Saul was worried since he was a tall and impressive making him the most obvious Israeli choice to fight the giant Goliath.
 
Practice: Sometimes our enemies appear much more invincible than they are. Fear has a way of gripping a man's mind and causing him to lose a godly perspective. Jesus said it well in Matthew 10:28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God (Hebrews 10:31).
 
Pray: Lord, give me an extra special sense of Your power, presence, and purpose when I face overwhelming odds or unanticipated danger. ​

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: When Saul asked David to be a part of his administration, he obviously did not know that Samuel anointed David as the future king. In a unique way, God uses an evil spirit to torment Saul into needing a music healer to bring him relief. This appointment provided a young shepherd boy an opportunity to learn firsthand how a kingdom operates and inadvertently prepares him for leading the nation.
 
Practice:  After David’s secret anointing, it took about fifteen years for God to prepare him for the role as king. During this time Saul was still the sitting ruler of Israel. If we serve the Lord, then we are all in preparation for some way of serving in His kingdom. Sometimes our plans, even clear plans where God calls you, are put on hold indefinitely. Like David, we can use a hindered time for learning and grow in dependence on Him. What has God called you to do as part of His kingdom? Are you using your time for learning and growing?
 
Pray: O sovereign Lord, continue to show me Your will and calling on my life. Help me to see how You are preparing me for the future. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Like most men, Samuel evaluated Jesse’s sons by their physical appearance. David’s older brothers looked like worthy kings on the outside but not on the inside. Human beings judge a man by outward appearances; God judges a man by the state of his heart. All the kings of Israel were set apart as leaders by a consecration service. Once consecrated they were to serve as God’s representative to the nation. Unfortunately, God rejected Saul’s kingship and all his descendants.
 
Practice:  Saul was tall and handsome with outwardly impressive looks. Samuel was evaluating the sons of Jesse by their outward appearances. When men judge by outward appearances, they may easily overlook those who have less impressive physical features. Outward appearances don’t reveal inward realities. God judges the inner realities of a man’s heart which is much more accurate. God knows the condition of your heart. What actions and attitudes are you considering so you can improve your inner man? How do you evaluate the men and women in your life?
 
Pray: O Lord, give me the ability to see people the way You see them and to know when outward looks are deceiving of inward realities. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: The prophet Samuel’s task of anointing the new king was dangerous. As the leading prophet for the nation and having just delivered a negative word from God, his meetings and ceremonies would be of great interest to Saul. A natural reaction of a king who just got fired would be to monitor the nation’s kingmaker and keep tabs on his actions. Consequently, the Lord gave Samuel an additional task that would help disguise the real purpose of his trip to Bethlehem in the ruse of making a sacrifice to the Lord. A sacrifice would have been something of a normal part of his ongoing ministry.
 
Practice:  To have anointed David publicly would have forced Jesse and his entire family into a dangerous situation with King Saul. Why? During these times in biblical history family members were often guilty by association. If you were an an enemy of the king, your family members were in danger as well. By having a slight ruse, Samuel was as wise as a serpent but as gentle as a dove. How are you discerning evil and safety? When would it be OK to appear one way to the world while doing something else for the Lord?
 
Pray: Lord, if the situation arises in my life where I need to distort the circumstances, let it be for the preservation of life. Help me to be wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove (Matthew 10:16).

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Saul, distressed about keeping his place of authority over the general public, asked Samuel a second time to come back with him and worship the Lord together.  In a seeming exertion to pacify the prophet and reclaim his support, Saul confessed he sinned and yet still wanted to worship the Lord. He requested once again that Samuel join with him to honor him before Israel. Saul recognized that he needed the validation of Israel’s spiritual patriarch to govern the society successfully and accompanies him before the people. Saul’s starting to show less and less true concern for living in spiritual truth.
 
Practice:  Saul was more concerned about what others would think of him than he was about the condition of his relationship with God. Needing the prophets visual backing, he begs him to worship in front of the people as a public means of visual support. If Samuel had refused, the people most likely would have lost all confidence in King Saul. Saul wanted to look good no matter what! How about you? Are you so concerned about the way people see you that you are unwilling to have your weaknesses or problems exposed?
 
Pray: O mighty God, show me the areas of my life that need more of Your truth and light. Help me to live humbly before men and to know when to ask for help from more mature leaders. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: What had driven Saul from total obedience to God’s command? At the core of his thinking, it was fear of men rather than fear of the Lord. Because of his misguided fear, Saul found it more important to hear and act on the complaints of men instead of listening to the voice of God.  Also, he enjoyed the economic gain from the spoils of war and the prized possession of a king prisoner.  Both items he could display as personal trophies which boosted his ego and public image.
 
Practice: Saul disobeyed the Lord in a matter of utmost importance. He consistently disobeyed the Lord on previous occasions, and now the Lord rejected him as king. The way Saul attempted to justify his partial obedience proves his motives were wrong and sinful. All of us can face situations where the favor of men is more important that the favor of God. Which one is more important to you?
 
Pray: Lord, help me to obey Your word fully. Show me where the dark spots are in my heart and help me expose them to Your light. Help me to fear You with proper reverence and awe. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com