Many decisions that ought to be taken are not taken due to one of the following reasons:
1. we try to rationalize the situation assuming that our finite and limited human minds has infinite comprehension and abilities or
2. we think of the consequences of the decision and are paralyzed for fear of life or fear of being ridiculed.
In today’s text, taken from 1 Samuel 17, we will look at David, who chose to fight for God NO MATTER WHAT.
Many are probably familiar with the story of David and Goliath, but for the benefit of those who aren’t, as a backdrop to this character, David is summoned by his father Jesse to take food for his brothers who are at war with the Philistines. Upon arriving at the scene of the battle, he is troubled to hear the taunts of an over nine foot giant, name Goliath, who was hurling insults and defying the armies of God; the Israelite army. David confidently avers to fight the Philistine and in the conversation that ensues between him and Saul, the then king of Israel, David narrates his life experience of victory against a lion and a bear that had stolen one of his father’s sheep from the flock. He tells the king, how he went after the lion and the bear and smote it and delivered the sheep out of the mouth of the beast and when it arose against it, he caught it by its mane (beard) and slew it. He then tells the king that it was the Lord’s doing that delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, and now it was time to witness God continuing to do his work of deliverance from the Philistine giant Goliath. The consequences of David’s action meant that his life was in jeopardy from being killed by Goliath. David nonetheless chose to risk his life recognizing that he would emerge victoriously because his reliance was not on himself or his abilities, but on the Lord. David chose to fight for God NO MATTER WHAT the consequences would be. Long story short, David goes in the name of the Lord and fights the giant, defeating Goliath with a single sling shot to the giant’s head, and emerging victoriously.
David could have gone with a heart puffed with pride from his victories against the lion and the bear. He did not go to fight with the heart of a lion or the strength of a bear, but instead with a humble heart that trusted in the name of the Lord. David in short can be considered to be the giant in the duel, because he had God on his side, despite his relatively smaller size. If David had rationalized or thought of the consequences, he would have probably ended up being like one of the soldiers in Saul’s army – sore afraid, terrified and paralyzed in fear of fighting the giant. His act of courage not only did it deliver him and Saul’s army from those who defied God, but also earned him an entry into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:32), an eventually established him as a king over all Israel (2 Samuel 7:8). Our acts of courage to fight for God, relying on His name, will deliver us from all the giants that taunt and try to enslave us and will establish us to reign with Him in God’s indestructible kingdom (Revelation 5:10) .
Points to ponder:
- What is God asking you and me to fight for?
- Can we take the step to fight for God, without rationalizing or thinking of the consequences, NO MATTER WHAT?
