“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” Psalm 138:3
I am trying to tie the life of David to what we are trying to accomplish with these man hikes. I hope going out on these hikes will help people pursue God’s heart, what God dreamed when he created us, discover how to be the man he made us to be.
Seth said that David is the archetype for us as men. So how did God train David, and how are our hikes similar? Why did God choose David, how did God train David? How does God choose and train men, how do we as the church choose and train men? Have God’s ways changed? Are the church’s ways different than mans?
Charles Swindol wrote a biography on David which I read when I was 25 and just starting to pursue God, uh, for real. Swindol says that there are three priorities for God appointed servant leaders, the people God chooses.
In 2 Chronicles 16:9 we read “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him….”. I believe our unchanging God still looks for those he will strengthen, people he will build his kingdom through. So what are these priorities, how does God choose?
When God chose David, God said to Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7), “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
What did God see in David? What do I hope God is training in me and seeing in me? What do I hope these hikes will develop?
Spirituality. Ears to listen to his voice, a heart to obey. A person whose heart is in harmony with God. What burdens God’s heart also burdens the heart of God’s servants. When he speaks we follow, our character conforms to His. I want to be this man, I want my heart to long to please God’s heart. We spend time on these hikes listening to God and exhorting each other to pursue Him, pursue the dreams he has planted in us.
Humility. God cares more about character than charisma. Humility, a servants heart. Is this person authentic or is he faking it? Is he a servant? Is he humble, faithful, respectful? These hikes can be humbling in many ways, and we expect humility and transparency from each other.
Integrity. “Complete, whole, innocent, having simplicity of life, wholesome, sound, unimpaired.” Bone deep honesty, honest to the core. It is who you are when no one is looking. Not just trying to make a good impression. Keeping up a false self is difficult to do when we are exhausted from hiking and camping. It is easier to be honest when it is just the guys and we don’t feel pressured to impress anyone of the opposite sex.
Spirituality, humility, and integrity. I love these words, what they represent. These are the foundations of a bold and stouthearted man.
