Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.” And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
(1 Samuel 17:19-30 ESV)
David was not dazzled by doubt and dread when he saw and heard Goliath. Unlike the others, who were filled with fear, who could see and think only the worst, David saw opportunity. He also saw red - a righteous anger: "Who is this ungodly person, that he should be allowed to disgrace God? Are we willing to give up all dignity and do nothing? Let me get this straight: 'We're going to sit around and do nothing but more and more afraid, when the name of God is on the line, and there is a prize to be won? What is wrong with you people!?!" What is wrong with us indeed? God has promised so much when we are willing to stand up and speak up for him. Who does the enemy think he is? Will we sit here and do nothing?
Friday, August 19, 2016
Let me get this straight...
Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.” And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
(1 Samuel 17:19-30 ESV)
David was not dazzled by doubt and dread when he saw and heard Goliath. Unlike the others, who were filled with fear, who could see and think only the worst, David saw opportunity. He also saw red - a righteous anger: "Who is this ungodly person, that he should be allowed to disgrace God? Are we willing to give up all dignity and do nothing? Let me get this straight: 'We're going to sit around and do nothing but more and more afraid, when the name of God is on the line, and there is a prize to be won? What is wrong with you people!?!" What is wrong with us indeed? God has promised so much when we are willing to stand up and speak up for him. Who does the enemy think he is? Will we sit here and do nothing?
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