June 29, 2018 Friday

“32  Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33  And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34  But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36  “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37  Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” 38  So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39  David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. 40 ¶  Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41  So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42  And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43  So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44  And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” 45  Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46  “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47  “Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.” 48 ¶  So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49  Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.” (1Samuel 17:32-49 NKJV)

            This passage could be called the King and the young boy or be called the King’s new clothes. Saul with all his armor and weaponry was so afraid of Goliath he offered marriage to his daughter and exemption from taxes if someone would fight in his place. But David who was a young man without any military training or armor was willing to go up against the giant as he was.

            Could it be the reason Saul offered his armor to David was because he was ashamed David was doing his job and that what people would say about sending an inexperienced boy in his place?

            In the church at times we do this by demanding someone with a new idea, calling or ministry do it the way we have always done it. Like Saul we want to control what God is doing through other people often weighing them down with our bad choices and fears!

            When reading this passage some may be amazed to think of David stepping forth with no armor trusting in God to defeat the gargantuan enemy! But if we are honest as Christians we should live this every day!

Every day as Christians we face a world of despair.

Every day we face lives destroyed by sin.

Every day we face lives destroyed by addiction.

Every day lives are destroyed by murder, genocide, suicide and just a lack of care.

Every day Christians around the world die for their faith.

Every day children die of hunger, are neglected, abused and even sold as objects for sex.

            If we are true to God and seek to live out our faith than like David we face the Goliaths of our world armed only by the power of God and protected by God’s love! AND that is enough!

            Do you see the terrible things in the world as something to pray God will do something about it? Do the giants of this world make you want to hide in your tent for fear of the enemy? Or will you with the righteous anger at those who destroy what God loves do battle armed with the Lord God Almighty?