The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Friday
May 9, 2008
Goliath stood and shouted across to the Israelites, "Do you need a whole army
to settle this? Choose someone to fight for you, and I will represent the
Philistines. We will settle this dispute in single combat! If your man is
able to kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our
slaves! I defy the armies of Israel! Send me a man who will fight with
me!" When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and
deeply shaken.
David talked to some others standing there to verify the
report. "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and putting an end to
his abuse of Israel?" he asked them. "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that
he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" And David received the
same reply as before: "What you have been hearing is true. That is the reward
for killing the giant."
But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David
talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he
demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I
know about your pride and dishonesty. You just want to see the battle!"
1
Samuel 17:8-11,26-28
Okay, before we pick up a stone to throw at Eliab because he didn't see the potential in David, we better make sure we haven't made the same mistake about people close to us. I must say that I am guilty and I won't go into why; that isn't the important thing. The important thing is that we recognize this trait in us and do something to correct it.
David's brother thought he knew David, but he was wrong. What David's brother knew was that for some reason the prophet Nathan had chosen David over him for God's anointing. Therefore, Satan tried to use Eliab as an instrument of discouragement in David's life. He was looking at the natural and David was looking at the supernatural. Let's check out David's response.
"But David persisted.'I have been taking care of my father's sheep,' he said.'When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!'" 1 Samuel 17:34-37
David drew from the well of wisdom that came from experience ¾ not education. He knew that while alone in the sheepfold he wasn't really alone; God was with him. He knew it was God's strength and intervention that he trusted on to help him overcome the lion and the bear. He also knew that this giant was speaking out against his Lord and that his Lord would help him.
"David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty — the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone will know that the Lord does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The Lord will give you to us!'" 1 Samuel 17:45-47
David spoke truth. He spoke what he knew in his heart was the truth ¾ Goliath was wrong and God wanted him defeated. This is true in our lives. Our war is not with flesh and blood, although Satan will use real flesh and blood instruments to discourage us. However, if we know that what we are about to do was appointed by God we can speak the truth and walk in it ¾ no matter who comes against us. Therefore, be careful what you say about anyone ¾ you never know who the Lord's anointed might be in your midst!
Father, I praise You that you are the great "I Am." You are the One who gave confidence to David and the One who will give confidence to me in my battle with the enemy. May You, Lord God Almighty, be forever my Conqueror! Help me to minister hope and recognize potential in all people you place in my path.
