Not in Vain
Don’t get the feeling that we signed up for suffering when we received Jesus. We live in a fallen world where every human being to some extent. The difference is that our suffering need never bein vain. As we allow God to minister to us in our fiery trials, He is glorified, the church is edified, and we are qualified for greater reward.” – Beth Moore –
What’s your Goliath?
“The Philistine asked David, “Am I some sort of dog that you come at me with sticks?” And he cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said to David, “and I’ll feed your flesh to the wild birds and the wild animals.”
But David told the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel’s army, the one you’ve insulted. Today the Lord will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head! Today I will feed your dead body and and the dead bodies of the entire Philistine camp to the wild birds and the wild animals. Then the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel’s side. And all those gathered here will know that the Lord doesn’t save by means of sword and spear. The Lord owns this war, and he will hand all of you over to us.”
The Philistine got up and moved closer to attack David, and David ran quickly to the front line to face him. David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone. He slung it, and it hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone penetrated his forehead and he fell face down on the ground.”
The whole scene has me at the edge of my seat. You can see the movie just happening right? But all seriousnes aside lets really take a look at this story with fresh eyes.
First of all lets look at the characters in this scene.
For days this man, Goliath who is the “champion” of the Philistines has been daring any Israelite to take him on. Goliath is more than nine feet tall and more than likely has a massive proportional body to go along with that massive height. Sometimes when two countries went to war against one another they would settle the war by showing of a champion from each country. Unforunately up to this point no “champion” has shown up for Israel.
Enter David.
A boy. Who has a couple of stones and a sling. Against a giant that is over nine feet tall.
Earlier in this chapter David volunteers for this task.
“Don’t let anyone lose courage because of this Philistine!” David told Saul. “I, your servant, will go out and fight him!”
Question: What kind of courage and faith does it take to willingly take this on?
I mean, for forty days straight this was going on and not one able bodied man stood up to this man. Not one.
Then David comes to the Valley of Elah and says this to men:
Who is that uncircumcised Philistine, anyway, that he can get away with insulting the army of living God?
David’s already volunteered and he doesn’t even have a weapon. He has nothing but the heart that the Lord has given him.
So, what are some things in our lives that we think are too goliath for us to handle? What are you overwhelmed with in your life?
Don’t you and I realize that we are a part of the living God?
When I read this story all I can think about is the courage of this young boy to risk his life for his country and for his God. David could care less about the fact that he is a boy and only has a sling and a rock, he puts more validity and confidence in the fact that He is a child of God. The God the created the heavens and the earth. The trees and the fields. The animals and all the people that have ever been created and all those that will be created. That knowledge and that realization outweighs everything. In David’s mind:
Nothing will stop the Living God. Because He controls everything. He is in everything, of everything, and with everything and everybody.
I could use some of that kind of knowledge and faith.
Holy God,
Help us to recognize who you are and whose we are. Help me to see how powerful your love, grace, and peace and will in this world is. We love you Lord and we ask that you help us to glorify you in all we do. In our weakness give us your strength and in our foolish ways give us your wisdom. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
