“All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, [Goliath, the giant], 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 David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine”…And David said [to king Saul], “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”….Then David said to the Philistine [giant], “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head”….[So that all the earth] and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:24-47, various verses, emphasis mine, ESV).
Two things stand out to me here. One is “Faith” the other is “Doubt”. A young shepherd boy “knew” his God, while at the same time the whole army of Israel only knew “of Him”.
What is “Faith” anyway? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Because young David knew his God and therefore knew the promises of His God, he did not “look” with his eyes or make decisions by what he “heard“. He walked by faith. He didn’t suddenly decide to act by faith that day, he had lived that way every day. Therefore it was simply as natural as breathing for David. God gave the victory because His “NAME” was at stake. His glory was at stake. A lesson here: God will ALWAYS honor the request of those who’s desire is to honor His Name! So, God gave the victory, and His glory was honored, and David was honored.
The scriptures say “we [are to] walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And this “perspective” or mindset will change how we live, literally! It will, if it is true faith, therefore, a transformational faith, a Hebrews 11 faith. It WILL give us courage and confidence to face all things. Even our greatest “giants” by the power of Him, being Christ, Who is greater than he who is in the world!!
May this be your testimony, as it was David’s who said:
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior;" (2 Sam. 22:2-3)
Stand firm in faith and strengthen your brothers and sisters! Amen
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