Do you hear marching in the trees?

That might sound like a strange question to ask. To David, it would make perfect sense. Young David was finally seeing his anointing as king come to fruition. After many long years of serving Saul then running from his pursuits, David is experiencing God’s long awaited promise.

When studying David’s life, it might seem as if it could have been easier for David than for us to determine God’s calling on his life. After all, Samuel anointed him when he was just a young shepherd boy and told him and his family that he would be king of Israel one day. Seems plain as day, right?

For us, it’s rarely ever announced in our youth what God has planned for us as adults. Many of us spend years trying to determine the course of our lives, our careers, our callings. While it might seem like God’s approach with David would make things easier on us, it did not come without its challenges for David. And lots of them.

In this newsletter, I want to dive into a look at how David handled following God’s call on his life and how we can apply those same methods when we feel a call on our own lives.

If you feel God leading you to a new path, this one is for you.

Many of us are familiar with David’s story. As a young boy he is called into Saul’s service to soothe his tormented soul with music. David is then given the opportunity to defeat Goliath in battle and earns a name for himself through other exploits. Eventually, Saul is enraged with jealousy of David and his anointing as future king and tries to take his life. Multiple times. David must flee from Saul and spends many years in hiding.

During that time, even though David had more than one opportunity to take Saul’s life, he would not take the king’s life into his own hands. He continued to revere Saul as God’s anointed king and did not want to rush his own calling at the expense of Saul’s. As a matter of fact, David even kills the man who brings him the “good news” that he had taken Saul’s life. Saul had been defeated and wounded in battle. He even asked this man to end his life and put him out of his misery. Thinking David would be elated to know his pursuer had been killed, the man rushes to tell him. However, David ordered his men to kill him and said, “Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.'"

All of this goes to show that while David believed God would make him king of Israel one day, he did not try to rush the position or make it happen in his own timing. He trusted God to make it happen in his own way.

Meanwhile, many incredible warriors joined David. Some defected from other armies, but God moved in these men’s hearts to join David’s cause. They made proclamations such as: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you!”

This example demonstrates how God will often use words of affirmation to seal his promise in our own hearts. How often have we felt sure that God was calling us to do something? Then as time moves on, we begin to question if he really was telling us that or if it was our own imagination. God will often send others into our path to speak words to us that align with his own. We do not need to write these moments off as coincidence. God can put on the hearts of others to speak the words we need to hear to reaffirm what we already know to be true.

After Saul’s death, David is anointed as king of Judah; however, he and Saul’s house continue to battle for many years afterwards. Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth reigns in Israel. Similarly, when two brothers kill Ish-Bosheth and bring his head to David as a prize, those men are also sentenced to death. It is after this act that all of the tribes of Israel come to David to crown him king over all of Israel and Judah.

Hundreds of thousands of men joined David “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” 1 Chronicles 12:38 says, “All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all of Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David eating and drinking… 40 There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.”

This example reminds us if God calls us to a mission on his behalf, he will likely put that same mission on the minds and hearts of other believers as well. We need not be surprised when we speak of our vision to hear others say they are eager to join forces with us. And when fellow believers are united on a mission for God, there will be great joy.

With his title as king finally realized, and with a vast army at his side, David set out to conquer Jerusalem and is able to capture the fortress of Zion. That is where he establishes his fortress called the “City of David.”

From this position, the Bible says in 2 Samuel 5:10 that David became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him. Then verse 12 says, “And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel."

By following God’s lead, David was certain of three affirming things:

1. His strength was solely due to God’s presence. David knew his success hinged on God’s hand. Just as he knew he could defeat Goliath because God was on his side, he knew God would strengthen his forces to face the battles that still lie ahead.
2. The Lord had established him as king. God had opened the doors. David forced nothing. The surety of his calling could have been diminished if David felt it had happened of his own conniving. But because he waited on God’s timing, he knew it was God's doing.
3. God made him king for the sake of the people of Israel. David was not made king for his own benefit but for the good of others.

The above knowledge would greatly embolden and encourage David in his service as king. Israel had an enemy to face, and they needed a strong king to lead them to victory.

As soon as the Philistines heard Israel and Judah united and David had been made king, they marched to defeat him. Before taking action, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go and attack the Philistines?” The Lord answered him and said he would hand the Philistines over to him.

Of course, David then defeated the Philistines. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called “Baal Perazim,” which means the Lord who breaks out.

Interestingly, the Bible points out that the Philistines abandoned their idols there and David and his men carried them off.

In our efforts to follow God’s path, the enemy will do his best to get in our way. We will face spiritual battles along the way. But we serve the God of breakthroughs. No weapon of the enemy will prosper against us. And when others see how God allows us to break out, maybe it will have the power to influence others to put down their idols.

The Philistines regrouped and tried to conquer David again. As before, David inquired of the Lord. This time the Lord answered uniquely, and this is where the title of this letter comes from. In 2 Samuel 5:23-24 God says to David, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” David and his men followed God’s orders and struck the Philistines down.

And so again, I ask the question: Do you hear marching in the trees? Do you feel God calling you to something?

If the answer is yes, then let me just say–I get it. I get how scary that might feel. I KNOW it will require you to step out of your comfort zone because, let’s just be honest, when does God ever call us to something within our comfort zones?

But if you listen closely, that marching you hear, that is the footsteps of God’s army going before you. God will never call you to a path that he has not already walked.

I too know how it feels to say yes to God’s call. To be honest, I am writing this letter to encourage myself as well. But that is exactly what we should feel after looking at David’s example.

We can find assurance in the fact that, if God is calling us to it, then he will be the reason for the success behind it. If God wants us to do it, it will be so he receives the glory, so we do not have to fear failure. If God desires us to walk this road, he will send other believers to join our journey who share his vision. And if God is leading us, it is likely because others need the blessing that will come from it.

Not only can we be encouraged by David’s example, but we can draw wisdom from it as well.

When we do feel a prompting from God, it is important that we trust his timing. Just because we feel confident in our calling does not mean we should rush into it and force it ourselves. Although patience is not easy, it allows for much smoother transitions. If we will put our trust in God’s ability to open doors, it will take a lot of pressure off of ourselves.

Additionally, we would be wise to follow David’s example in inquiring of God before making big decisions. Imagine if David had become arrogant after his first defeat of the Philistines and then did not inquire of God the second time if he should attack. If he had failed to ask God, he would not have known to circle around them from behind. If he had gone straight up towards them, he could have faced a great defeat. It was because he sought God’s guidance and followed it that he gained the victory.

To conclude, let’s take a closer look at the trees David was to listen to–balsam trees.

When the balsam tree’s bark is cut, the sap forms a tear shape as it emerges. According to research, the Hebrew word for balsam is baka, which is rooted in their term for weeping. However, this sap was also highly valued for its medicinal properties. The term “Balm of Gilead” refers to this sap as it represents healing and restoration.

I believe nothing in the Bible is mentioned out of coincidence. God could have arranged this attack in front of any type of tree in this world. With one word he could have uprooted the balsam tree and replaced them with oak or pine or cedar. But he told David to attack his enemies in front of the trees whose tears bring healing.

After all of the betrayal, all of the attempts on his life, the crying out and lamenting to God, David gains his victory. God designed this battle to bring David from a place of weeping to a place of victory.

And perhaps you, like me, have been in a place of weeping. But we serve a God who is so intricate, so deep within every detail of our every step, that he can ordain the very same place of tears to be where we find our mending. He can orchestrate our steps of obedience to lead our hearts to the balm it needs for healing.

So when our hearts are stirring, I pray we will take the time to listen. And when we hear marching in the trees, may we all be brave enough to follow. Psalm 95:7-8 says, “for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…”

May our hearts never be hardened to the sound of his voice. In responding to his call, it might just be our very own hearts that receive the blessing. And what a joy it would be to know that others were blessed by our obedience as well.

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I pray this letter has encouraged you. It means more to me than you can imagine when I hear from any of you. Knowing that the words God gives me brings encouragement to others blesses me beyond measure.

I would be humbled if you felt led to share my newsletter with family or friends whom you feel it might benefit. If this letter has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive my newsletters monthly, please use the link below to sign up:

https://stillwaterswritings.kit.com/5149215172

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May God bless you all with Still Waters.

Love,

JulieAnna

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