While on the mission field recently, during one of my morning times with the LORD, I found myself in 1 Samuel 17. Perhaps you know this passage – David battles Goliath. I love this story. I love the heart of David for His God.
When the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:42-47
I can see David in my mind’s eye. He was fearless. He knew His God and He knew the source of his power in facing this great and menacing enemy of Israel.
But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
His source of power was the LORD of hosts, the God of heaven’s armies and the armies of Israel.
David had confidence in the LORD because of who He is. David also understood something very fundamental about God and His displays of His power.
Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.”
David knew that the display of God’s power-the power to send a small stone from a slingshot into the forehead of a giant and stun him, so he would fall and his head could be cut off by David-was for the benefit of the on-lookers, for those who would hear the story later, and for us who read and study the scriptures looking for the face of our God in the pages.
The source of David’s power was God Almighty.
The purpose of the display of power was so we would know that God doesn’t always use conventional weapons (but He can) or conventional people (but He can) to fight on His behalf. He doesn’t have to because the battles are His and He is able to do whatever He likes since He is sovereign over every person, force, power, and principality in the Universe having created it all.
Thank you Father, that as your servant I am not responsible for providing the power or the results. Thank you that my job is to show up and believe that You will do what You have promised. The battle is Yours!
Israel – Galilee
