"run to the battle" pt. 4

" As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him , he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance to Gath and the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent.

1 Samuel 17: 48-54 (NIV)

"run to the battle"

I previously shared , that when we trust in the Lord for our lives, He is Faithful to strengthen, and protect us from evil. To stand Faithful and Fearless is the key to preparing for battle. It's this utmost trust, that leads us to the next step in being prepared, understanding the battle is the Lord's. The Plan, the Tools, the Outcome, are all His, for His Glory. Faithful, Fearless, Prepared, clothed in the Glory of God. Declaring the source of His Power, David is ready,and focused.

In today's scriptures, we see this imposing figure of Goliath, intimidating to Saul and the army of Israel, but not to David, moving to attack. David, ready and focused, doesn't hesitate, as he runs quickly to the battle. As I suggested, in the last post, hypothetically, about what Saul's and the Israelites' thoughts were at David's preparation, what were they ready for at this juncture. From their natural perspective, maybe some thought David was, as the saying goes, "dumb as a box of rocks", after all he was carrying five in a bag, to go fight a giant. But David didn't think the Lord would deliver them, HE KNEW, and a miracle took place.

As he is running to the battle, takes a stone out of his bag, puts it in his sling, slings it with enough force and precise accuracy, that he fells the giant...dead! I can see the multitude of jaws dropping in shock. David seizes the moment, to finalize this aspect of the Lord's plan, as David runs to Goliath's body, and cut's his head off with Goliath's own sword. As the old boxing saying , "as the head goes, the body follows.

When the previously fearless Philistines, saw Goliath dead, they turned and ran. A good example of misplaced faith's outcome, relying on man's means and methods, as opposed to the Lord's. They must have had past success in this method,to have this trust in Goliath, now dead. Their misplaced faith is now fear, as they run, away from the battle.

On the other side, seeing the Lord use a seemingly simple, almost childlike way to defeat the giant, by a boy ,no less, the once fearful Israelites see the Lord's deliverance, have their faith renewed, and become fearless. With a shout of confidence, they pursue after the Philistines, killing untold numbers all along the way. Deuteronomy chapter 28, tells us about proper faith, and the blessings of obedience. Verse 7 tells us the enemy that comes against us in one way, will run away in seven, how appropriate here. After the battle, they came back and took the rewards of the victory.

David knew of the rewards of Faithful service to the Lord. Deuteronomy 28 stated it as part of the Lord's covenant with Israel, David believed it, and lived it. He saw the rewards, on the other side of the battle,as he inquired before asking, what would the reward be for killing this Philistine, and removing this disgrace from Israel. The true reward for David, was glorifying the Lord. As he stated, when he was ready to engage Goliath, that "the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." May our motive for serving the Lord, be as David's, for God's Glory.

May the Lord give us the understanding, as David had, and as James tells us, that in our trials, God is testing our Faith, perfecting it, and developing our character, being made complete in Him.(Jas. 1: 2-4). Completely trusting Him, in every situation in life. When walking by Faith, motivated in every situation to Glorify Him, even death is a testimony, to our Faith. As David understood, and the "great cloud of witnesses," who have gone on before us, set the examples for us, may we also, stand,Faithful and Fearless, Prepared for battle, focused and ready, to "run to the battle."