Learning from David's intimacy with God

When we study the great figures of the Bible, one thing stands out. They all had an intimate relationship with God. In the previous post, I mentioned that Abraham was probably able to discern the presence of God in the three men because he knew God and he knew how it felt to be in His presence.

The problem with our generation is that we believe going to church on Sundays is enough. We forget that Jesus is the Bread of life, in the same way we eat food every day to satisfy our flesh, we need the bread of life (Jesus and the Word of God) to nourish our spirit. Prayer and reading the Word are some of the ways to cultivate a deep relationship with God.

Another problem is that we distance ourselves from God by only knowing him as God and not regarding him as our Father. That change in mindset really makes the difference. Knowing God as our Father means that we desire to talk to him through prayer because we know the importance of daily communication. We desire to bring honor to his name by obeying his word and trusting in the words He has spoken over us. 

King David is described as a man that was after God's heart (Acts 13:22). David's life gives us a clear picture of what it means to pursue God's heart.

King David is one of the most interesting reads in the Bible. I admire the fact that before he acted, he enquired of God first. In David's intimacy with God, he knew that if God's approval wasn't present then he was likely going to fail. 

I Samuel 23:2 (NKJV)

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah"

The Philistines were fighting against the city of Keilah and when David was notified, he wanted to go to war to save the city. David was a protector hence why he wanted to save the city. Before he acted, he inquired of the Lord. In this instance, we see that David was not led by pride. He didn't rely on his previous victories, he didn't rely on his military experience, he relied on God. 

The men that were with David were afraid to go to Keilah so David inquired of the Lord again.

I Samuel 23:4 (NKJV):

Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand."

Another key factor, David was surrounded by people that were in fear, instead of giving into that fear, he inquired of the Lord. David had faith that the Lord would deliver the Philistines into his hands so he went to Keilah and saved it's people. This is another example of obedience being fuelled by faith, similar to the case of Abraham.

Reading about King David led me to reflect on myself. I have made a lot of decisions without first seeking the face of the Lord. I have given into fear and anxiety instead of seeking reassurance from the Lord like David did. I am learning to first ask God before acting and honestly, it's a process. Sometimes I act first then enquire afterwards. 

David was able to inquire of the Lord and hear from him because of the intimacy he had with God. We can inquire of the Lord but if we don't know him, it is difficult to hear him or even know that He is speaking. If we don't know him, then we won't be aware of the various ways He speaks. If we expect Him to only speak through dreams then we are likely to miss what He is saying when He changes the method of communication.

Limiting God is one of the mistakes we make. Expecting God to always speak to us in the same manner is limiting His power. He is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, if He wanted to speak through nature, He would. 

The point is, we must always be open to hearing from God and understanding that it can happen in many ways. There is no tool that God can't use when He wants to talk to you. You matter to Him that much.

Every day I learn more about my Father in Heaven and it is just amazing. I cannot describe it in words. As I am typing this, I am learning about Him. One of the ways God talks to me is through my blog. I might begin the post with a certain direction using the same scripture but my understanding might change. As much as I am sharing, I am also learning. 

Glory be to Him for He is worthy. Every day I am in awe of his glory, grace and love. I hope and pray that you can encounter God in your daily lives in a way that fosters reverence and intimacy with Him.

May we all seek to know Him intimately, just as David did, trusting that He speaks, leads, and reveals Himself to those who seek Him.

💌 Stay updated with my latest posts: Follow my blog