1 Samuel 17:49 (NIV)
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 facedown on the ground.
I don't believe in coincidences. Early this week my ear was giving special attention to metal noises. This may sound strange, but as I was driving I could hear metal; sharp sounds, not sure where they were coming from; perhaps they were coming from outside; hmmm maybe even my car, I hope not.
Well, this was one of those challenging weeks where you FEEL the intensity of the war we are in--spiritual war that is! Monday night as I got together to pray with women who love, serve and fear the Lord; they encouraged me and in the midst of our conversation we discovered that many of us are in the midst of this battle. We prayed, encouraged one another and the story of David and Goliath was once again ministered and my heart was lifted up; I was reminded of this fight, these scrimmages I call them; struggles that try to cause confusion and defeat; they are real but temporal. We are not of this world and one day we shall return home.
Wednesday morning as I was arriving at my office, once again a piercing, sharp, metal noise was harnessed by my eardrum. This time, I smiled! I believe God was trying to get my attention; he has been doing that all week. This battle we are in, that I do not see with my eyes, IT IS REAL! There are armies fighting, good and evil trying to conquer my thoughts, my physical body as well; you see if I stay and engage in a spiritual war with my physical body I have no chance to win. The weapon that God has given me is prayer and worship; my sole reliance on the God of the Angel Armies that fights for me; Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord God my Banner; we are holding each other's hands until the victory comes.
There is an armour that he has given us; a helmet, sword, breastplate, belt and a shield to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:13-17). Ever wonder about this armour? It seems to cover us as we move forward; it shields our "front". So who has our back? Hallelujah, it is God himself.
When David went to face Goliath his resume went like this; “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37) And indeed God was with him!
David refused the kings' tunic, coat of armor and bronze helmet. Interesting, a young man whose resume speaks only of conquering animals and wildlife; no armour for you? He must have been equipped with armour from God himself; an allegiance to honor God, to keep his Name Holy, to remove the disgrace that the Philistines were trying to impose on God's people. The description is incredible. When the threat carried away a "sheep" he hunted the enemy and rescued the sheep from its mouth. So even when I feel like I am being conquered, even carried away, my defender is on his way! He will have to encounter my Defender and the Word of God tells me he is a shield all about me. So hear the sharp metal sounds, listen to the clings and clangs as the battle goes on. Those noises are sounds of victory!
Even as Goliath and his "shield bearer" came toward David; tried to intimidate him; it's interesting that he says, Am I a dog that you have come to me with sticks (1 Samuel 17:43). Hmmm....call yourself whatever you want, I have a resume and it says that I conquer all kinds of enemies, wildlife, bears, lions and yes even dogs!
It's not just the training that David had; he was the keeper of the sheep, but it was the reverence, respect and fear he had toward God that led him to victory.
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”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 facedown 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. (1 Samuel 17:45-50)
When Goliath came down, David took the enemy's own sword; listen as he pulls the sword our of his scabbard with purpose and victory. Perhaps it was metal and as the sword is taken away from the enemy you hear that metal resonance, a sound of victory.
God has a way of teaching me with ordinary life events. He is using the senses he has given me, this time my hearing, just to get my attention.
So the next time you find yourself in a battle, pick up the phone, call someone who can fight with you in the "heavenlies" ; begin to pray, sing a song unto your God, give him reverence, honor; come to him like a little "boy" or "girl" and ask your Defender to help you. He is able to move mountains, even cause them to come down, make valleys rise up and rough ground level; let the Glory of the Lord be revealed and prevail!
See our fight is not a physical one but a spiritual conflict.
Last mention: Our enemies sometimes hearken to the voice of God and submit; Saul became Paul. We who serve the Lord were enemies of God at one time as well. The enemy of our soul wants us fighting against everything and everyone. But Jesus has commanded us to pray for our enemies. So we cry out to our God to help us and help those who try and bring distress to us. We pray that God would reach them and draw them to himself.
It's a strange place to be in....we want victory not just for ourselves, but for those who are held in darkness too.
God bless you!~Liz
