Victory Over Rejection

 

    

 

    

1 Sam 17:28

 

"Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

NKJV

 

We all have heard the epic tale about how David, a young shepherd boy, slew Goliath, the giant warrior.  But the lesser known story is about the "bratty shepherd brother turned King".  In other words, prior to greatness, David dealt with a whole lot of minimizing.  When Samuel the Prophet came to his home to anoint a king, his father overlooked him and did not even call him in from the field to be considered. 

 

In the passage above, we see the pep talk that he received from what should have been his closest supporters- his family.  But as you can see David's oldest brother Eliab, saw him as a nuisance that rubbed him the wrong way.  When David tried to assess why Goliath was left to taunt the Israelites, David was reminded about his station in life: "With whom have you left those few sheep...?"  Talk about a put down!  He was reminded that he was only a shepherd.  And only a small-time shepherd with a few sheep.  When the big boys, the serious men of battle were talking about the enemy, David was made a fool of for even trying to assess the situation.

 

The remarkable part of this story is that David was not moved by his nay-sayers.  They never saw merit in him. Oh, well!  Still his zeal for God arose. If you read this account in full, you will see that NO ONE thought he had anything of value to offer the situation.  His oldest brother tried to shut him up.  The next people he talked to replied in the same manner.  Undaunted, he was taken to the king.  Finally!  He was being taken seriously.  Not so!  Observe King Saul's reply:   

 

33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."  (1 Sam 17:33)

 

His father did not regard him as valuable.  His brothers diminished him, and even the king told him he had nothing to offer.  And still David continued to stand in his confidence of what God could do through him.  When he finally came before his enemy, dressed simply and toting a sling shot, his enemy taunted him across the field:

 

    

So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" (v. 43-44)

 

Have you spent your entire life feeling rejected, put down and overlooked?  Take heart! God sees you and your worth is defined by Him.  He alone knows the germ of greatness that he has planted inside of you!  He knows what He can accomplish through you!  The job He has called you to is greater than you are- but not greater than He is within you! 

 

What people speak over us, as well as their attitudes toward us, can cause us to struggle with low self-esteem and a sense of being rejected.  Those experiences and attitudes can be difficult to overcome.  But if we allow it, God can use it to  garner our God-confidence despite all of the obstacles that we face. After today's story David did not immediately rise to greatness.  Once he began to prove his worth, rather than being heralded a hero by the king, he found himself a target for the king's spear.  While he was playing music for the king's enjoyment and relief!

 

The road to destiny and greatness is often paved with rejection, ridicule and resistance.  Hold tight to what the Lord has promised you. He alone knows how the story ends!

 

Dear Lord, today I pray for the rejected, the outcast and the abused.  Help them to rise above the lies of their enemies, and hear instead, Your voice.  Your voice that speaks confirmation, affirmation and faith to their heart.  Arise O God, and let our enemies be scattered!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.