Friday, July 14, 2023

1Samuel 17:19

1 Samuel 17:19  says, Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.  Though it says Saul and the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting the Philistines, I believe they were actually watching ans listening to Goliath in fear.  As followers of Christ, we are called to fight against those who are at war with God today, but we too often sit watching instead of engaging in the battle.  I also believe that the more powerful the opposition, the less likely we are to get involved.   Verse twenty adds, And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.  David arose early to carry out his father's instructions, and so should we start as soon as possible to do what God has called us to do.  We also see that David provided for the care of the sheep that he had been tending, and we know that after His death, burial and resurrection that Jesus provided for our care as His sheep by the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-one continues, For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.  Matthew Henry says that after forty days,the two armies were now getting ready to engage in battle, even though none of the men of Israel had answered Goliath's challenge to end the war by one of them fighting him one-on-one.  Evidently, they were less afraid of fighting the army of the Philistines together than of one of them fighting Goliath alone.  We as Christians have strength when we are united, but we should never be afraid to take on any giant that stands against us individually.   As Matthew Henry points out, David got there at a crucial time, and when God calls us to  particular battle today, it may be at a critical time in the war against evil in the world.  Verse twenty-seven states, And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.  When David got there, he left his carriage in the care of the keeper of the carriage and ran and saluted his brothers.  As Christians, sometimes we may be David and at other times we may be the keeper of the sheep or carriage while others are more actively involved in the battle against the forces of evil today.  We must not shirk our responsibility if we are.  Verse twenty-three adds, And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.  While David was talking with his brothers, Goliath appeared again.  David had not come to fight, but simply to deliver food and check on the welfare of his brothers.  As Christians, while are going about our everyday life, we may find ourselves confronted with someone openly defying God and challenging anyone to stand up to them.  Verse twenty-four continues, And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.  The army of Israel may have been getting ready to engage in battle with the Philistines, but when they saw Goliath, they fled from him and were afraid.  Evidently, none of them, Saul their king included, were looking to God to empower them in a fight against Goliath.   Though we should be ready to engage in battle against the army of forces of evil today, we cannot allow a particular giant challenge to cause us to flee in fear.  Verse twenty-five concludes, And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.  The men of Israel asked David if he had seen Goliath, and told him the reward for facing him.  Of course, whoever faced Goliath would have to defeat him to claim the reward, and none of the men of the army of Israel had been willing to try.  We may not gain material riches if we engage in a particular battle to defend God's word today, but this should not be a determining factor in our willingness to do so.  Verse twenty-six declares, And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?  David asked them what reward there was for the man who faced Goliath, and then said that Goliath was a reproach not only to the army of Israel, but to God Himself.   Matthew Henry says that David might have asked about the reward so word would get back to Saul about David not being afraid of Goliath.  If we are obedient to God we have no reason to fear any giant that stands before us.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.  The men around David assured him that these rewards would be given to the man who killed Goliath.  The only reward we should be looking for as followers of Christ when we battle against evil is our reward in Heaven, which is everlasting life with God.  We should never look for material things as a motivator.  Verse twenty-eight continues, And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.  Eliab, David's oldest brother, berated David, claiming that he had abandoned the sheep simply to come down to see the battle out of self-pride.  Too often today, Christians who are afraid to engage in battle sit back and question or berate those who are willing to fight.   Verse twenty-nine says, And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?  David asked Eliab what had he done that was wrong, and was there not a cause for his questioning what was happening.   The army of Israel still had not engaged in battle, and there was one who was openly defying them and this reflected poorly on God as well.  As Christians, it is bad enough if we allow ourselves to be cowered by the people of the world, but it is even worse if our actions bring dishonor to God.  Verse thirty adds, And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. David then turned to the other men around him and asked the same questions.  When we stand for God, we should not be surprised if those who are unwilling to do so question or even berate us.

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