Thursday, May 15

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

1 Samuel 17:1–18:4

John 8:21–30

Psalm 111:1–10

Proverbs 15:11

 

 

David’s confrontation with Goliath certainly falls on a “top” list of well-known Bible stories.  It defines the underdog-find-success genre.  Many times, we may avoid considering the God-ordained purpose of this event and David’s concentration on bringing glory to God before himself.

 

I would like to offer a few encouraging takeaways from the passage that may have meaningful application in our daily lives:

 

1.       Fight just battles.  David takes the challenge of fighting Goliath, knowing that God would support his mission.  He explains to Saul:  “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.”  Indeed, Goliath’s defiant, arrogant attitude shows his rebellion against God’s chosen people, thereby insulting God’s sovereign will.  David’s intervention against Goliath therefore serves to protect God’s holiness and to increase His glory.  David displays little pride or seeking of his own glory in the passage.

 

2.       Arrive prepared, but don’t trust in your preparation more than God’s provision.  David brings five smooth stones to the battle and significant confidence in his slinging abilities.  I chuckle at considering the ill-fitting, bulky armor on David, who then quickly decides to fight the battle with much less elaborate weaponry.  David’s vulnerability would actually serve as a strength here, as he would be free to launch the stone without encumbrance.

 

3.       Clarify your mission, from beginning to end.  In delivering the truth to Goliath, David reiterated:  “… I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied….  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”  David understood his purpose this day and Who had given him that purpose.  His words echo Zechariah 4:6:  “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit…. ”  Or also Psalm 20:7:  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses,/ but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

 

4.       Focus on the eternal, not the temporal, to stave off complacency.  David could easily have allowed success to rush to his head.  Instead, he pointed to God’s work in this great victory rather than his own.  David’s sin with Bathsheba arrived at a time when David had become comfortable in his success and the confines of the conquered Jerusalem.

 

5.       Build alliances with supportive, God-honoring friends.  Instead of isolating himself as Goliath’s champion, he sought out Jonathan, whose lovingkindness mirrored God’s favor towards David.  David and Jonathan’s covenant would act as a vessel of God’s faithfulness and protection to David in the challenging years to come.

 

 

Lord Jesus, we praise You for the strength that You supply for each day’s victory through Your Holy Spirit.  We recognize that we may achieve very little on our own, but, by Your Spirit, You provide a victorious life – in communion with You and to the blessing and nourishment of our souls and other people.  There are many giants that we face today:  sinful attitudes, depression, addiction, mourning, and unfulfilled promises.  Lord, I pray that You would give us wisdom to choose battles worthy of our calling as Your children and the courage to fight them vigorously.  Help us not to become conceited or complacent, but ever-vigilant to remember Your first love for us and the greatness of Your character.  To You be all glory, honor, and praise forever.  Amen.

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