The Shepherd David Triumphant (1895) by Elizabeth Jane Gardner
Today, thoughts are shared on David the shepherd boy, divine protection, and sacred process within covenant relationships. What Christian believers once regarded as their need for divine interventions and protection will become permanently changed, for Christians all are in an ongoing process that transforms their consciousness, and the operations of their self-will. The full revelation of divinity to mankind requires both that humanity endures suffering and that GOD also suffers incarnate (i.e., using flesh and material form). In place of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, born again and developing believers are to abide in the assurances from GOD through his Son, Jesus Christ. Sacred events (miracles) are hidden amidst the disasters. Loss, tragedy, and suffering are overcome when properly seen in the light of unchanging principles, sacred promises, and prophecies that are still unfolding. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shown) posted the following:
Christians, why does't god/Jesus protect the faithful? and in times of suffering, he suffers with you, but does nothing to really help.?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8: 26-32, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Continuing A Perpetual Covenant (08/03/2017); What Young People Need? (06/26/2017); The Greatest Weapon? (12/17/2015); GOD is Faithful (12/03/2015); That GOD Is Faithful? (08/31/2015); No Divine Protection? (10/02/2014); His Authority in Judgment? (10/03/2014); Prince of Peace? (07/18/2014)
“Anonymous”, at a time when we have multiple incidents of violence occurring in churches, the revelation from GOD declares that he is faithful; and the focus must be that his created become faithful as well. When David—the shepherd boy who was anointed by the Prophet Samuel to later reign as king over Israel—was attacked by a lion and by a bear, GOD did not intervene to deliver David by slaying the two beasts for the boy. So to speak, David was to do for himself what was required, and what he was equipped to do. David had prepared himself for such a confrontation by practicing long hours to develop accuracy and power with the sling shot, a military weapon of its day. This skill also would later be used by David in praise to GOD on the battlefield against the giant warrior Goliath.
Where sinners first approach Christ, many are anchored in appetite, lust for material things, carnal reason, and ambition for social standing. The “mechanical” and routine challenges of life are often thought of as suffering (e.g., bereavement and having to complete mortality; having to buy food repeatedly; paying for shelter by a mortgage or rent; arriving to work on time; keeping ones word in a relationship; having to endure the enmity of friends). More correctly, Christian believers are to acknowledge that those things are for preparation. Mankind and other finite, created beings and living creatures are being used by divinity to make the character and substance of GOD knowable, known, accessible, approachable, and even, visible. It is the integrity of the living to exist as interdependent, self-aware, and separate from GOD by having discrete consciousness, personhood, and self-will (willpower).
The divine protection most needed by mankind is not against the Adversary (the Devil), for like David, born again and developing believers are all disciplined and equipped for violent confrontations. Thus, the shield that only GOD may provide includes atonement and propitiation; protection against corruption (decay, defilement, rot) of ones life essence (breath, spirit, Word) imparted from the makeup of GOD; discernment (ability to apply and use ones own spirit content as a standard to recognize and respond to deposits of divine spirit within sacred law, events, oneself, other persons, practices, prophecy, the holy writings, etc.); sacred knowledge in place of secular knowledge that exposes the operations of sin that oppose the continued existence of divine law, the law giver, and the fullness of Creation; and judgment that annuls the second death.
The divine process for mankind is one of transformation that includes resurrection from the dead. The grace of GOD is to be acknowledged as sufficient for mankind; and the sacred need of the living is more for assurance and sealing, rather than deliverance, protection, and rescue by emergency response teams. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) James 4: 6-8, King James Version (KJV): 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
(2.) Isaiah 54: 17, KJV: 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
(3.) 2nd Corinthians 1: 21-22, KJV: 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) John 10: 27-29, KJV: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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