Stand in Faith & See the LORD’S might
There was a madman, a giant of a man plaguing an entire army, and their leader, the king, was discouraged. ‘Will my kingdom be lost to this warring enemy?’ & ‘What man is able to fight against the might of this giant?’ may have been two questions that tumbled within the leader’s mind. A young man, a youth, steps into the scene and asks:
“Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”
(The First Book of Samuel 17: 26 NASB)
Questions often bring bitterness, even anger, for they sometimes reveal the fear of those who failed to ask the questions themselves. Oftentimes, the enemy stands tall and defiant, higher than even one’s faith, but that was never the LORD’S intent for His chosen people.
In this biblical account, the king whose army had been battered by the warring enemy was beyond discouraged. All hope seemed impossible, and now, the enemy employed a ‘giant’ to fight with them.
How would they ever win against this giant?
Enter the shepherd youth, David, who spoke these words directly to King Saul, outlining the many battles he had won while tending his father’s flock of sheep.
“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear;
(The First Book of Samuel 17: 36-37a NASB)
and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them,
since he has taunted the armies of the living God.”
And [continuing] David said,
“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear,
He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Maybe you are familiar with the rest of the narrative, remembering how this youth, this teenaged boy stepped into the battle armed only with a sling and four smooth stones.
Possibly you recall how this teen ran quickly into the battle and faced a giant twice his size and stood firm in the strength of his LORD.
“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
(The First Book of Samuel 17: 45 NASB)
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.”
- Do you remember how the youth David swung his sling high above his head and flung a single stone straight into the temple of Goliath, killing him?
- As a follower of Christ, your role is quite simple: To stand firm; To be a witness; & To stand in amazement at the outcome the LORD will accomplish through you.
The psalmist David wrote many years later these words:
“Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
(The Psalm 20: 7-8 NASB)
But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
They have bowed down and fallen,
But we have risen and stood upright.”
The LORD is faithful.
God’s Word is trustworthy.
It remains the most printed book in history. His Word is true and undefiled.
Jesus tells us to follow Him, come what may.
- Be bold to proclaim the gospel message, and see what God will do.
- Be courageous to face your battles, armed in the name of the LORD.
Stand amazed at the power of the LORD.