“Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32, NIV)
Yesterday we considered the fact that the weapons of our warfare are not those the world uses. In fact, you’ve probably been reminded of this when you’ve seen one of those tee shirts that says: “Get on your knees and fight like a man.” On the surface, it makes about as much sense as winning a golf tournament using only a hockey stick.
In the midst of yesterday’s reflections, I mentioned David’s employing to the sling when all around him were dressed in armor and carrying swords or bows. Maybe it was the picture of this shepherd-king slaying the giant that gave Paul the assurance that what he was writing was truth when he told the Corinthians that we fight with uncommon weapons that carry the power for demolishing strongholds.
Now let’s turn a second direction in our assessment of that ancient account today. In doing so, we shall see that David not only chose a different weapon but was fighting a different battle than we often envision when remembering the events of 1 Samuel 17.
Consider these details:
– David came to the battle scene after his anointing.
– David was ridiculed for his stature, his age, his thinking.
– David called upon God in heaven for the victory, even when he appeared to have no chance.
– The armies aligned themselves with a single representative, their own individual abilities to fight
amounting to nothing.
– Victory came through one man.
I hope those details sound achingly familiar. That is, I hope your heart beats deeply over each one. Here’s why:
– Christ, the title given to Jesus, means “anointed one.”
– Jesus was “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3).
– Jesus cried out to the Father when every wicked effort was pointed his direction.
– You and I have a choice. We must align ourselves with a single representative—the Savior or the
enemy. Our own fighting skills amount to nothing.
– Victory over sin and death has come through one man.
If you’re not looking for the gospel there, it’s easy to dismiss the Old Testament. But ask the Lord for insight from this side of Scripture and even the most ancient texts will reveal the plan of salvation. Yes, everything looks different from here.
(Special thanks to Glen Scrivener and his view of 1 Samuel 17 in his book, The King’s English Year-Long Devotional.)
—
Jeff Hopper
May 27, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.