Clarity

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51 (day three) 

“What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?” 

One can make a case that this question is actually rhetorical—that David is exposing these concerns as paltry diversions and absolutely beside the point: “The enemy commences with chest-pounding triumphalism against a God-delivered and God-shepherded people, and the best you can do is drool over the wanted poster?”  Saul had proven himself unwilling or unable to provide any spiritual context for Israel’s predicament.  Spinning fantasies of rewards and glory for some imaginary hero was all that kept Saul’s scared soldiers from deserting.  David stepped into the breach, clarifying the issue: The biggest danger they faced was not the end of their self-governance, but the end of their knowledge of God.  Fear Goliath, and Goliath is all you’ll find.

Author: Bryan Richardson

Bryan Richardson is the Associate Pastor for Counseling and Pastoral Ministries at FBCSA.

One thought on “Clarity”

  1. I could not agree more that the biggest danger is the end of one’s knowledge of God. Men forgot that God controls the battlefields and operates the world. Men are powerless and are under God’s control.

    Goliath was powerful through his outward appearance and people feared Him. He did not seem to have the knowledge of God’s presence and God’s power and seemed to behave as He was in total control of His enemy, the Israel. He was wrong.

    David’s training as a shepherd prepared him to fight off Goliath. He was more concerned for God’s cause more than for himself. David had no fear because God was with him. The spirit of God was with David. God empowered David to fight off Goliath and to win the battle.

    We should have no fears when God is on our side. Wherever God is present, our opponents will be defeated! He controls the battlefields, not men, and no matter how strong an army looks like, everyone is subject to God’s governance. God delivered David to the battlefield; and He successfully defeated Goliath and brought the winning outcome for Israel.

    God is big and powerful and has supreme authority over the earth. He is in total control of the universe. We all should have that knowledge of God and submit to Him. Fear God, not Goliath, not any men!

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