Floodgates of Heaven Devotions: What are YOU known for???

Today’s Reading: 2 Sam. 6-8, Luke 15:1-10

Today’s Reflection: 2 Sam. 8:13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

Wait a minute; I thought David already had a name for himself! After all, he was the one who slew Goliath with a rag, a rock, and the guidance of The Holy Spirit. David was the one of whom they sang in the streets that Saul had slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands. David is now the one who resides as King over all of Israel, after having experienced many hardships and winning many battles and overcoming many enemies, including even King Saul.

At this point, one would think that David had already “earned his keep” so to speak, but the Word simply states that “David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.”

To be honest, I’m not really sure what was so special about this particular battle that “gat him a name”, if all preceding battles had not accomplished it already. However, one thing we can state for sure, without any doubt whatsoever; perseverance and consistency of excellence will at some point pay off and give you a name that is known by your accomplishments.

Perhaps the unique aspect of this battle in particular was that its notoriety came as a surprise to David as well. Perhaps we can learn here that God reserves the right to exercise an element of surprise as to when He will promote you for your accomplishments. Maybe God is teaching us not to try to build a name for ourselves in a single moment, or a single battle, or a single season, or a single accomplishment, but rather a consistent, dependable history of overcoming obstacles.

Maybe God wants us to learn how to approach each and every battle with a spirit of excellence and a determination to overcome, regardless of whether or not we get the earthly recognition our natural man so often desires.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s not really even about us at all. King David was known as a man who fought the battles of The Lord. He started off with his first adversary Goliath, proclaiming in essence, “You come to me with a spear and a sword, but I come to you in the name of The Lord!”

I honestly believe that David was not even trying to make a name for himself, but rather was out solely and entirely to defend the name and the honour of The Lord, and because he consistently did so in battle wherever The Lord sent him, eventually The Lord “gat him a name” for his accomplishments to The Lord’s service. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up!

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Floodgates of Heaven
Volume 2
Entry 109 of 365

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