In January I began a Bible reading plan that started in the book of Joshua. As I've read through Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and now 1 Samuel, one theme has shouted at me through these pages filled with more battles and drama than your weekly cable drama: The Lord rescues his people. From God leading his people in battle to take possession of the land he promised them to protecting them from their enemies, God continually rescues his people. Sometimes they don't even deserve it because they've turned from the Lord to other gods and start chasing after the things of this world, but over and over God rescues his people when they turn from themselves and the world and cry out to him. God once again reminded me of this theme as I read through a familiar story in 1 Samuel 17. You know the story, shepherd boy David armed only with his staff, sling, and some rocks takes out the big bad giant Goliath. So many times we tell and hear this story with an emphasis on David or Goliath. We’ll relate ourselves to one or the other: either we’re the little guy needing to overcome something or we’re the giant standing in our own way or the way of others. I want to encourage you to go read 1 Samuel 17(Click here to read!). Pray for the Spirit to give you fresh eyes to focus on God at the center of the story. Look for Him, look for his influence, his rule, and his power. Look to the Lord, David certainly did.
While the Israelite soldier's were "much afraid" with their eyes fixed on Goliath, David's eyes were fixed on the Lord. He declared to Saul that "The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" He cried out to Goliath that "the Lord will conquer you." And what reason does David give for God doing this? So that everyone in the whole world will know there is a God in Israel and that the Lord rescues his people (1 Samuel 17:46-47).
This story shouts at us to worship, trust, and be rescued by the Lord who brings both justice and peace. It's a prelude to Jesus stepping down from his heavenly throne to rescue his people. A people who's sins, just like the mocking giant Goliath's sins, cannot go unpunished by a just God. Praise God that as Paul wrote to the Colossians "For he (God) has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son (Jesus), who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins!"
"For he has rescued us."
1 Samuel 17 isn't about self-empowerment to be like David or self-deprecation to not be like Goliath. It is an account of the one true God displaying his power and rescuing his people whom he loves. And the message for us is the same message David declared before God gave him victory over Goliath: There is a God and he will rescue his people. So today as you hopefully take some time to read through a likely familiar story: worship, trust, and find hope for rescue.
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him." - Psalm 91:1-2