And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the Name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. (1 Sam. 17:39-40, 45-46)
While David may have been curious once he arrived, he had been sent by his father to seek out his brothers and greet king Saul whom David had attended on occasion. The cause of the Philistines once more defying the armies of the LORD was not only an immediate battle facing Israel but also an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on behalf of Israel and whosoever trusted in Him once again. Goliath may have been a giant physically, but God is greater than anything Israel faced. Israel had no need to fear man, or look at the outward appearance, even if this giant was skillful, huge, and well-armed, God was and still is God and God alone and will give victory to His servants who trust in Him for the battle is the LORD’S.
No matter what we face, if we are truly in Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we can have the victory. Victory over sin because God has forgiven us through Jesus Christ and our repentance, not to continue in sin, but to have victory over the temptation which comes our way in His strength. Victory over our enemies and in the spiritual battles we face, not in our own strength or with the weapons of the flesh, but in the strength of the LORD and in the power of prayer and armor of God. We must prove the weapons of our warfare, which are not carnal or of the flesh, but are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds of the heart and mind which keep us defeated and discouraged. God has already won the war over sin and death and we have nothing to fear if we rest in Him and do His will. He has called us to reach the lost who do not know Him that they might repent and be reconciled to Him. He has commanded us to teach the nations all that He has commanded from His Word and by His Spirit. He continues to empower His own to preach and proclaim His Word, in season and out, until all have heard or He is done with us. His is the battle and His is the victory for the Lord alone is God, our Creator, Redeemer, and King and His alone is the glory, forever and ever, Amen.
Until the Day when He comes for His own, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet