Greetings,
That one movie created by Sherwood Pictures, Facing the Giants, where
a struggling high school football team goes against an undefeated opposing
team and wins, reminded me of the story from 1st Samuel chapters 16 and
17 where God chooses David as king and goes up against the mighty
Philistine warrior, Goliath. But the part that mostly got my attention was in
the beginning of 1st Samuel 16 when the LORD says that He rejected Saul
as king of Israel and sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem for the LORD had
chosen a king from among one of Jesse's sons.
And when Samuel had arrived to the place of Jesse and his sons, Samuel
begins to check out each of his sons, starting with Eliab. (vs. 6) Now from
what verse six reads, when Samuel stated, Surely the LORD's anointed is
before him," It was probably assumed Eliab was a large and muscular man
which would, in Samuel's eyes make a good king. But God saw differently
and said to Samuel that He had refused him, because God does not see as
man sees. Man focuses on the outward appearance, but God looks on the
heart.
That part of the story in 1st Samuel was the part I liked most, where God
does not as man sees. So it goes on that Jesse check out the other sons of
Jesse but God has chosen none of them ( vs. 8-10 ) then Samuel asks Jesse
if this was all of his children whereas Jesse tells him of his youngest son David
who was out keeping sheep. Samuels says for Jesse to send for him and when
he was brought to Samuel, he finds that the boy was of youthful countenance
but the LORD commanded Samuel to arise and anoint him, for God had chosen
David.
I take it Samuel, as well as Jesse and his other sons, were a bit sceptical about
David being a king, after all, to them he was just a shepherd boy. Nevertheless
Samuel obeys the LORD and anoints the boy in the midst of his family and the
Spirit came down on him from that day on. ( vs. 13 )
Now let's fast-foreward to Chapter 17 of 1st Samuel when the army of Israel
was at war with the Philistines and there came out from among the Philistines
a giant of a man named Goliath who went out to taunt the armies of Israel,
demanding they send a man to challenge him. He was no doubt wanting to
know, "Is there no warrior mighter than I?" ( vs. 8-10 )
Well King Saul and all of Israel were greatly afraid as Goliath presented
himself forty days, no doubt taunting the armies of Israel to send him a
man so they could fight together, all the while defying the armies of Israel.
Now let's fast-foreward to verses 20-30 where David left his sheep with
a keeper and went to where the battle was being fought and saw Goliath
come out yet again to taunt the army of Israel and asks of what shall be
done to this Philistine, seeing how he saw how he defied the armies of
the living God.
David's older brothers were angry at David for coming into the battle and
accused him of pride and for leaving the sheep in the wilderness. David replies
by saying, "What have I done? Is there not a cause?" David's reply was told
to King Saul and David offers to go against Goliath.
Now here again is where the example of man looking on the outer appearance
comes in, with Saul stating that David was a youth and Goliath a warrior since
his youth. And the comparisons between David and Goliath were quite obvious,
a young shepherd boy going against an armed and battle hardened giant. It was
quite obvious to everyone present that this was an impossibility.
David then tells Saul of how he overcame a lion and a bear that came after his
sheep and how the LORD was with him. He then goes on to say that Goliath
shall be as the lion and the bear and that the LORD would be with him in this
battle as well.
So then Saul sends David into battle by first equipping him with armor and
sword but David refused them, saying he has not proved them. David then
takes five stones out of a brook and brings along his sling. I bet this must
have really flabbergasted anyone who noticed this. Going up against a giant
with stones? I'm quite sure they were thinking, This kid is absolutely nuts.
Well, when David and Goliath meet for the first time in the battlefield,
Goliath himself had the same attitude when he sees who his opponent is.
Goliath taunts David after noticing David's appearance but David is
undaunted by the Philistine's remarks and tells him what was to become of
him. The part I liked was when David had stated that the LORD does not
save with sword and spear, for the battle was the LORD's.
And then it comes to pass that when he ran to meet Goliath, he took a stone
from his bag and hurled it with his sling, the stone striking the giant in the
forehead so hard it sank. Yep, David brought a giant down with one stone.
One shot equaled one kill.
This was the story of where armed might meets faith in God. Or I could also
say that faith in God verses prideful arrogance. Guess which one won?
God had chosen an unlikely candidate to beat an otherwise unbeatable foe
and to be King over His chosen people. People saw only a shepherd boy
but God saw a king. God saw a king because God saw his heart.
If you feel you are an outcast of society, please do not lose heart, if you
have chosen Jesus as your Savior, He sees a valuable treasure.
Have a blessed day.
Have a blessed day.
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