I Samuel 18:45-47
“David answered, ‘You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day GOD is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that GOD doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to GOD—he’s handing you to us on a platter!’”
“David replied to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies- 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 you 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 assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!’”
We hear the exciting story of David and Goliath from our early years. Then, the emphasis was on David’s trust in God. As adults we learn the basis for that trust. It was borne of reading God’s law and learning who God is. It is remarkable to hear these great truths coming out of the mouth of an adolescent, but that is what the Spirit can do through a willing heart. We today should speak out more, as David, in zeal for God’s honor. David understood God cannot be mocked and the battle is the Lord’s to fight. He grasped the reason the Spirit would work mightily that day, so “The whole earth will know there is an extraordinary God in Israel.” This is the Bible’s purpose; God reaching out to us, sharing himself, telling us what went wrong and what he has done to fix it. This story isn’t about David and Goliath, it is about the God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
Lord, you are a holy God mighty to judge and to save. Our sin repels you but does not extinguish your love for us. So, you made a way through Jesus. Grace me to live this hope and light that others may know it too. May my heart catch David’s zeal for you honor.