"What Have I Done NOW?"

 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”

1 Samuel 17:29 

 

Let me set the scene: David has brought food to his brothers who are in the Israeli Army stuck in a stand-off with the Philistines.  Goliath, that HUGE behemoth of a man, has come out each morning and challenges the Army of Israel to send out someone to fight him and their fight will decide the war.  So far, Israel has had no takers and David asks what reward is there for the person who defeats this giant.  David's brothers berate him for pestering the soldiers and tell him he just wants to see the battle.  David's response is one that sticks out for me "What have I done now?".

 

David, it appears, was bullied by his brothers quite a bit to the point he had gotten frustrated with their constant correction, nit-picking, fussing at him.  So here he is again, getting the same treatment from his older brother, and David, in his frustration, asks "What have I done now?"  

 

At times, I can empathize with David in his frustration. When you do your best, and it's not good enough. When you cannot make every event, and it's not good enough.  When encouragement just isn't there, just criticism.  I get it.  I can empathize.

 

We all have detractors in our lives.  Those who want to see us fail, and want to help that failure along.  Those who just refuse to acknowledge anything good.  We all have them.  They are frustrating to us.  But here's the good news, while they may try to make us feel defeated, God is the one truly in control!  And when God's plan is in control, NOTHING and NO ONE can stop it!

 

David didn't let his brother's words rattle him...instead, David went out to face his Goliath and God defeated this monster!  Take heart!  Take EVERYTHING to God and let HIM do the fighting for you!