A Clear Perception (Part I)

Our Perception is critical in navigating various situations and evaluating the people we are faced with. If our perception is accurate, it gives us the ability to know the mind of God and to align ourselves with His plan in any given situation.

Definition of “to perceive”  (Hebrew Yada): to know, to perceive, to perceive and see, find out and discern, to discriminate, distinguish, to know by experience, to be skillful in, to make known (Strong’s Concordance).

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”  Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 1 Samuel 17: 26-28

David was instructed by his father to run to the camp and take food for his brothers. He obeyed his father and did as he asked him to do. However, when he saw Goliath intimidating the army of God, he could not remain quiet and knew that something needed to be done.

David was not there to bring attention to himself, and neither was he there looking to humiliate his brothers. However, his older brother Eliab perceived his actions the wrong way. He accused David of being proud and insolent. In addition, Eliab, in a condescending manner, reminded David that he was just a shepherd boy to imply that David should mind his own business. Unfortunately, Eliab and his brothers had learned to be skilled warriors, but they were not spiritually skillful in their perception. 

David had already been anointed to be the future king of Israel, and God had bypassed David’s brothers who would have hoped to be qualified. However, Eliab’s perception of his brother had not changed. He still wanted to see David as his little brother who is only good in shepherding. Eliab and his brothers could have responded very differently. They could have encouraged David and told him that God was with him. They could have offered their help in taking on Goliath. Instead, they tried to humiliate him and shun him, so they would not look bad. Their perception of their brother David was clouded with their own pride and jealousy, and regardless of what David did, they could not see anything good about him. 

When our perception is foggy, it inhibits us from seeing God’s work in others’ lives. We need to put aside our own ideas and preferences and ask for the mind of the Lord in regards to other people.  Sometimes others cannot see or accept the anointing of God in our lives. The opposition from his brothers did not keep David discouraged. His focus was on the Lord, and he was able to accomplish a courageous feat that others were too scared to face.  This allowed the Israelites and his brothers to be saved from the hands of the Philistines.