Day 8: Being Bold
of The Heart of God: Through David’s Eyes
Below is Day Eight of the study, but there is an introduction to check out which gives context and sets the tone, and previous weeks to look at below. If you would like the full content all in one place, this book is now available for purchase on Amazon. Week 1 - He Longs for Us to Know Who We Are
Week 2 - He Longs for Us to Respond
Day 8: Being Bold
Growing up as a suburban kid, I had little understanding of what living in need meant. While my parents were at times struggling and other times thriving, I knew nothing of the stress. I was not required to contribute to the bills or needs of the family. My limited contributions were a result of my spare time and my own motivation. If I wanted my room a certain way, I was to keep it that way.
But, the moment I went to college, my perspective greatly shifted. I became aware of the privilege I had grown up on. It didn’t take long for me to appreciate that I did not have to carry the burdens of bills, responsibility, and providing for myself. I quickly learned the value of a dollar, I appreciated when someone else bought me a meal, and I rejoiced in a bill-free summer at my parents’.
In a similar way, we experience an ignorant, child-like bliss when we learn about God’s love for us. The forgiveness He extends, which covers all of our previous mistakes, is gracious and powerful. It is easy to take for granted the incredible way God loves us. We easily embrace the large quantity of blessings He pours out until the moment we notice we once again have sinned against Him.
In these moments of self-awareness, we often realize our issues and start to spiral. We forget that doing bad things, while completely our responsibility, is a very normal, human trait. Shame tends to creep in and tries to convince us that we are bad people because of our sin, but God knows that every person will be sinful. Knowing this does not change His opinion that we are not worthless. He sees the value of His people regardless of their behavior, but that is not the end of the story.
We have fleeting moments and persistent seasons of thinking we are defined by our sin. We forget that we are not too broken to be loved by God. Yet. God is very aware that, without His intervention, we are unable to be redeemed. In order to mend our relationship with Him, God awaits our decision to turn away from our sin and take the path He has provided toward restoration.
The God who loves us, despite our sinfulness, also wants more with us. Even though we make bad choices, He invites us to heal instead of give up. Throughout scripture, God allows His people to live a life that is a response to the love He has given us. Not only does he want us to participate in a relationship with Him, He allows us to rely on Him for all that we need. A life of response is rooted in being aware of these two concepts: we are aware of what He has provided for us, and we are aware of the deep need we have for Him.
As we grow in our faith, as a child moves from youth to adulthood, we are no longer reliant on God to provide for us. He allows us to choose if we want to remain dependent on Him, or if we want to try to figure things out on our own. Growth in our faith feels backwards because being mature in your faith is being submissive and reliant on God unlike our individualistic, autonomous culture. Due to our desire to know, understand, and be self-reliant, we view this dependency as weakness. The path towards God feels like a choice to become weak, but it’s really a response to our realization that we are weak.
Consider when David was completely defenseless against the giant, Goliath. His boldness and assurance in God’s power, even when put up against a massive, overconfident warrior, allowed David to experience the victory of God’s intervention. With a stone and slingshot, David slaughtered the enemy the entire army of Israel was too afraid to combat.
In his youth, while still ineligible to be on the battle lines, David was able to single-handedly defeat the most feared opponent without armor or formal weapons. God was put on display as David noticed his own limits. David’s boldness to respond to God’s ability to protect and deliver His people brought attention to David’s weakness and need for God. One of the many things that make David so strong and mature in his faith is his humility and reliance on God.
May we learn to be bold in response to God’s ability to provide and protect us, His people.
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”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. 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. 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.”As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 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 facedown on the ground.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.
Read 1 Samuel 17:41-50. Write down phrases or sentences David uses that you would describe as bold.
Rewrite the bold words you wrote down from the passage above, translating them into your own words. What can you claim God has authority over in your life?
Do you consider yourself a bold person? Why or why not?
Write about someone you have watched in your own life who exhibits this kind of faith. Who are they? How do they display their confidence in God’s power?
What would living in response to God’s power look like?
An excerpt of The Heart of God: Through David’s Eyes by Jill Ng