45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 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."
We are to be like David. We should come against our problems, our trials, our enemies in the name of the Lord almighty. The bible tells us that it's not a battle of flesh and blood but of spirit. Remember to turn it over and give it to God so that he can be victorious in all.
But why did David only pick up five? Wouldn't absolute trust in God indicate only one stone was needed? In fact, in the story it only takes one to kill the giant. So why did he take up five?
Because although David trusted in God, David also knew that to take on any challenge in life--even with God's help--he needed to be as well prepared as he could be. So he did his homework. He studied Goliath and his ways. He learned what he could about the Philistines and their methods. And he discovered something crucial to his decision to picking up five smooth stones, instead of only one.
Goliath had brothers--four of them (2 Samuel 21.19-22). David knew there could well be the possibility that when he killed Goliath that his four brothers might try to extract revenge. So David prepared himself: he picked up five stones, one for each of the Philistian brothers.
According to the account, David trusted in God to do what God could do. But he didn't just leave it all up to God. David did what David could do to insure his own competence in the face of a challenge. David picked up five stones because he'd done his homework and he was prepared. How can we do less when faced with our own challenges in life? How can we ignore god's instruction manual and not prepare for the battles we are about to encounter ?
Lord forgive me for sometimes being Lazy, for living in the flesh and not in the spirit. Help me to gain a stronger desire for your word and ways.
Verses 51-52, "David ran and stood over him, he took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gathes of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron."
What is fascinating about this story for me is what one man who is obedient to God can do to encourage an army to act. Thousands of men are lined up for battle, but it is one man on the other side who is bringing down curses and threats that paralyze all those men. Saul, their leader is hiding in the back. Because they don't have a leader who will be courageous and trust God to do what only God can do, the army doesn't move.
It is only when David comes to the front lines and believes that it is God that brings the victory, not the army, that the battle begins.
When a man after God's own heart believes that it is God that is in charge then the people of God that he is leading will be able to do everything that God wants them to do. If I will fear God and not man, if I will believe that the victory is in God's hands and not mine, if I will put my confidence in him and be courageous, then everything we are to accomplish at Charter Oak Church will be done.
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 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."
ReplyDeleteWe are to be like David. We should come against our problems, our trials, our enemies in the name of the Lord almighty. The bible tells us that it's not a battle of flesh and blood but of spirit. Remember to turn it over and give it to God so that he can be victorious in all.
But why did David only pick up five? Wouldn't absolute trust in God indicate only one stone was needed? In fact, in the story it only takes one to kill the giant. So why did he take up five?
Because although David trusted in God, David also knew that to take on any challenge in life--even with God's help--he needed to be as well prepared as he could be. So he did his homework. He studied Goliath and his ways. He learned what he could about the Philistines and their methods. And he discovered something crucial to his decision to picking up five smooth stones, instead of only one.
Goliath had brothers--four of them (2 Samuel 21.19-22). David knew there could well be the possibility that when he killed Goliath that his four brothers might try to extract revenge. So David prepared himself: he picked up five stones, one for each of the Philistian brothers.
According to the account, David trusted in God to do what God could do. But he didn't just leave it all up to God. David did what David could do to insure his own competence in the face of a challenge. David picked up five stones because he'd done his homework and he was prepared. How can we do less when faced with our own challenges in life? How can we ignore god's instruction manual and not prepare for the battles we are about to encounter ?
Lord forgive me for sometimes being Lazy, for living in the flesh and not in the spirit. Help me to gain a stronger desire for your word and ways.
Verses 51-52, "David ran and stood over him, he took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gathes of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron."
ReplyDeleteWhat is fascinating about this story for me is what one man who is obedient to God can do to encourage an army to act. Thousands of men are lined up for battle, but it is one man on the other side who is bringing down curses and threats that paralyze all those men. Saul, their leader is hiding in the back. Because they don't have a leader who will be courageous and trust God to do what only God can do, the army doesn't move.
It is only when David comes to the front lines and believes that it is God that brings the victory, not the army, that the battle begins.
When a man after God's own heart believes that it is God that is in charge then the people of God that he is leading will be able to do everything that God wants them to do. If I will fear God and not man, if I will believe that the victory is in God's hands and not mine, if I will put my confidence in him and be courageous, then everything we are to accomplish at Charter Oak Church will be done.