Whenever I see life, I always see the pattern about the underdog vs the giant. The weak vs. the strong. How humanity arises in a difficult time to face all odds. Especially at a time of Covid like this.. Hmm. As Malcom Gladwell puts it:
And yet... a few days ago, I was reminded that being an underdog is not only to "open doors" or creating opportunities. Nor is it about humanity and the trivial self-pride in lieu. Nor is it about you and me. Heck who are we to begin with? But the underdog story is about God's glory. It has always been that.
A few days ago I watched, Abraham Kuruvilla's "Fighting the Good Fight":
There were a few points worth considering his speech that invoked me ever so gently. Kuruvilla starts from 1 Samuel 17. At a time where the Israelites were going up against the Philistines who sent Goliath the giant:
And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 1 Samuel 17:4-6 ⚔️
Goliath was a monster. Huge in stature. Six cubits and a span is about 2.97 meters or nine foot nine inches! He was powerful as a champion. Fearless in his armor off bronze, fully equipped in battle. Goliath in his arrogance challenged a one-on-one fight against the best of Israel. Yet, when King Saul and the people of Israel heard this, they were afraid and fearful. For forty days, Goliath took his stand. No one dared go against him... In that time, David was sent to take provisions for his brother at war. When David heard Goliath's war-cry and defiance against Israel, David replied:
And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 ✊
David's first response was not fear and apprehension. But David disregarded and challenged Goliath's statement. Does Goliath not know that he is defying THE Living God? The true God of Isaac, Abraham and Jacob? David is appalled at how this 'outsider' or uncircumcised Philistine would say such a thing... Reading this reminded me off how the real battle starts inside our own minds first. Before the battle, David firstly faced opposition of fear from the men or soldiers. That was his first trial to overcome. Secondly David faced anger from his own brother Eliab:
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28 🐑
Lastly David was opposed even by Saul the appointed leader of Israel:
And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 1 Samuel 17:33 👶
When we see David vs. Goliath, we always see the result. How David won. Yet did you know some battles are a battle mentally and spiritually? Just like Jesus prayed in the midst off an impending Crucifixion. Jesus had to go through a tough spiritual battle: "Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38 😔. David too faced opposition even before he fought. The men opposed David by cowering in fear first. Next, his brother Eliab in contempt undermined David who was always known to be shepherd. Eliab questions David, what can a mere Shepherd boy do? Go back. Tend your sheep and stop interfering here. Lastly Saul who was the 'leader' stepped on David's pride. Indirectly saying- What can a youth like you do? You are inexperienced and weak. Compared to Goliath who has all the experience and strength!.. Despite knowing all odds, why did David able to overcome?
If we think by our own human logic, we always try to think through the ideology of power. As Kuruvilla puts it. We see Goliath as strong, then we need to be stronger. As Goliath wears an armor, we need a more resilient armor. Yet Kuruvilla in his speech joked how sometimes it's not as simple as Batman vs. Spiderman or like how David vs. Goliath is absolutely only about power. Because there is another force coming into play. Which is God. David just didn't see Goliath disrespecting Israel. He saw Goliath disrespecting God's glory and needs to be challenged. David did not look at his own powerless self but recounts the greatness of the Lord in his life:
But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he rose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." 1 Samuel 17:34 -36 🐑🦁🐻
How Great Thou art O Lord! When I look back how I forget off Your greatness. As I lest too forget off the lions or the bears in my life. The most distressing times that overshadowed my very soul 😭…
And David said, "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." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!" 1 Samuel 17:37 🎺
And yet in my greatest times of need. You were always there O Lord my God. Delivering me afar from my enemies. Thank You Lord for Your divine providence. Your everlasting love, Your graceful mercies....😭. If You are able to save me from my worst, what is truly the worst to come? You have and are always able to deliver me Lord. Thank You for proving me wrong time and time again...
Just like David, help me to not only see things as what they are. Seeing in two dimension of: giants, armies, wins or losses. But help me to see You in everything. In a three dimension perspective that it has always been about God's glory in my life. That I am saved for Your glory. Redeemed time and time again.
Reflection
Dear Lord, thank You for opening my eyes once more to see Your glory interweaving in my life...
"We forget about whose battle this is
We don't need statues and trinkets"
-Abraham Kuruvilla
As Kuruvilla mentions: be like David who fights for God's glory, because God's glory has first fought for him. Thank You Jesus for this moment off reflection. To know that it was never about us. But it has always been about Your glory.
This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 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 17:46-47 👑
Today as we venture off into our lives. Help us to know that For the battle is the LORD's. That You are able to save not with sword or spear. Not from the ideology of power, but through Jesus Christ who has saved us from a life of sin and death.
And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14 🌟
Help us to face the "Goliaths" off our lives. To be like Jesus who relied on You in prayer and meekness of heart in times of trouble. And strengthen us O Lord off Your greatness once more. As we recount Your everlasting grace, and proclaim Your glory everyday in our lives... In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 ☀️
Dear Lord, help me recount off Your grace.🕊️. As You have saved me from the lions and the bears. Burn a 🔥 fire inside me to uphold God's glory in my life. Give me eyes to see. And a heart to rely on You constantly. As I face "Goliaths", help me be like David in meekness to pray and to trust not in myself but in Your greatness. That all the earth may know that You are the God in Israel that saves not with power nor sword or spear—but through Christ alone. That this battle is the LORD's.👑. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Updated on:
February 2, 2021 | April 12, 2021
#David #vs #Goliath #battle #is #the #LORD's #it's #not #about #underdogs #but #all #for #His #Glory #our #awesome #God #who #delivers #overcoming #fear #apprehension #opposition #thankYou #Jesus #media #one
Credits:
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's David 📷Mateus Campos Felipe
Comments