CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 937

“Inquiring of the Lord”

…David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” (2 Samuel 5:18-19)

David was a man who experienced much success in life. Scripture tells us of his progression from a shepherd boy, tending his father’s sheep to that of a military leader and then to king. In reading about David in the Bible I was struck by how often Scripture tells us that he ‘inquired of the Lord’. In particular, I was struck by the fact that David continued to inquire of the Lord and did not draw on his past successes as if they were his own independent accomplishments. Picking up on our reference Scripture again in verse 22 we see that David was again faced with the same battle conditions in the Valley of Rephaim where he had just completed a successful campaign. Yet David again inquired of the Lord before venturing out and engaging the enemy.

And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” (2 Samuel 5:20-24)

How many of us continue to inquire of the Lord after we have experienced success? It is an easy trap to fall into to begin to rely upon what we deem to have been our success, worked by our own hand, power, and ability. In my own experience I am convicted of the many times when I have neglected to inquire of the Lord as I had done previously and stepped out guided by my own wisdom and experience from past successes. It is in those times that I have failed.

How do we inquire of the Lord? In a word: patiently. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; (Psalm 130:5) We have to temper our intense desire and need for an immediate answer. We have to curb our impatience and need to act now.

How do we hear from God? Through His Word. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27) God’s direction to us will never contradict His Word of Truth. Through prayer, reading, and study of His Word we learn to hear the promptings of His Holy Spirit speaking to our heart clear direction. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17) Sometimes God chooses to speak to us through prophetic gifts He has poured out upon some in the church body. However, we must always test this word against God’s Word of Truth. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)

How do we obey God’s direction? By having a heart after God. …he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ (Acts 13:22) We have to resist our tendency to seek the answer we want to hear – that we have already preconceived. Having a heart after God is to have ears to hear His voice and to obey His direction, stepping out in faith and trusting in Him to see us through our valleys and to give us victory and success.