King David was no wimp or slouch. When it came to fighting his enemies he “stuck to his guns.”
Although he began his reign well, David’s predecessor, King Saul, did not have the patience and stickability to wait for the prophet, Samuel (1 Samuel 13:11). When Samuel eventually arrived, he said to Saul: “What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed . . . I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering." In other words, he did not stick to what God told him.
David did not learn stickability from King Saul, especially relating to God’s commands. Where did he learn bravery, tenacity, and stickability? If he learned it from his father, Jesse, how come his older brothers failed the test when they appeared before Samuel? They all had the same father.
God was not looking for the outward physical display of character traits. God was looking for a man who was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13;14 and Acts 13;22).
It is possible to have a fine intellect, physical prowess, outward character qualities, and look like a great leader, but still not be what God looks for when choosing a king. God looked for a man after His own heart. He looked for a man who loved Him with all his heart. He looked for a man who would obey Him.
God wants a man who has stickability in his heart concerning the things of God.
David did not get the victory over the Philistine’s just because he had so much courage, bravery, and intellect. David was a deeply spiritual man.
David saw the giant defying the armies of the living God as a demonically inspired evil giant of war. He was insulting the God who David deeply loved. He looked past the bigness of the giant, because He knew His God was bigger. Listen to his faith in God as he challenges the giant:
“Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45, 46).
David would have only been a quarter the size of the giant. Goliath was a physical giant, but David was a spiritual giant. We know which is more powerful.
As you read the Psalms of David, you see that he was a deep spiritual worshipper. He played anointed worship on his harp as he sang the songs God gave him. David also deeply loved the people of Israel and prayed much for them. I believe he learned to develop his strength of spirit out in the wilderness, watching over the sheep.
God always favors those who are large in spirit. The stickability of the flesh can never match the stickability of the spirit. A small stone slung from the sling of a young man who has his heart in tune with God will always hit its mark and destroy the evil giants of this world.
God’s arrows and stones require spiritual hearts to be effective and stick fast.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell