Wednesday 7 September 2016

by Kathryn Baxter

2 Samuel 22:35 “He trains my hands for war,so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”

During the most trying and painful moments of his life, David saw the Lord move on his behalf and he could not refrain from proclaiming the exploits of his God.   David experienced personal enlargement when he encountered the greatness of God.  Perhaps David considered himself small and insignificant in the face of his enemies.  But in no way did he attempt to defeat the by the strength of his flesh.  His eyes were fixed on the greatness of God.  He depended entirely on the power of God.  Strongly united with the Lord, he did not fear the battles.  He knew that he was equipped for warfare (“You gave me the shield of salvation”).  He recognised that he was becoming great not because of his competencies or accomplishments but because of His God (“Your gentleness made me great.” ).  If we cultivate this same attitude, we can reflect the truth revealed in 1 John 4: 4 : “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Secondly, David experienced the widening or enlarging of his path (v. 37) Jesus Himself said “narrow is the path that leads to life and few are those who find it. (Matt. 7:14) Our Christian walk may be compared to a hike : a narrow path is at times hard to detect and hard to follow.  Furthermore, the Lord told us that HE is the “wat, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).  Our discovery of the path is not only through our study of the Word but when we experience Him.  A path always has a destination : ours is to be more like Jesus by letting Him “enlarge” in us. When the path is wide, the goal is reached more easily and more quickly.  The first thing that triggers this growth is our praise…even in the middle of the battle. But especially when we testify of how God intervened in our situation.

Repent today for lack of gratitude, self-sufficiency and smallness of thinking.  See how great is your God. Praise Him daily for His mighty works. Let your encounter with him be the start of your enlargement.