The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 17:47,
"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 [Philistines] into our hands."
This statement was made by David to Goliath just prior to killing him. Goliath was the Philistine who challenged Israel's forces. He had threatened King Saul and his forces daily as they shrank in fear of him.
David's words, "All those gathered here will know..." were important words for King Saul, as well as for us today. In Saul's instance, he repeatedly took his eyes off the Lord and acted in a manner that betrayed his lack of faith in him. "On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified." Verse 11. Often, in Saul's reign as Israel's first king, we see him fearful of the circumstances that surrounded him, exhibiting no confidence in God's ability to take care of him and the nation.
Paul holds up another man, Abraham, as our example of the kind of faith God looks for in each of us. This is the faith we see in David's life as well. This faith is manifested when we make choices that reflect we are fully convinced that God has the power to do all he promises, "Without weakening in his faith, he [Abraham] faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:19-22.
This is exactly the kind of faith Saul lacked that led to his rejection as Israel's king by God. Saul made his choices in life based on the circumstances he found himself in rather than on the promises of God. We see this repeatedly in 1 Samuel.
"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 [Philistines] into our hands."
This statement was made by David to Goliath just prior to killing him. Goliath was the Philistine who challenged Israel's forces. He had threatened King Saul and his forces daily as they shrank in fear of him.
David's words, "All those gathered here will know..." were important words for King Saul, as well as for us today. In Saul's instance, he repeatedly took his eyes off the Lord and acted in a manner that betrayed his lack of faith in him. "On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified." Verse 11. Often, in Saul's reign as Israel's first king, we see him fearful of the circumstances that surrounded him, exhibiting no confidence in God's ability to take care of him and the nation.
Paul holds up another man, Abraham, as our example of the kind of faith God looks for in each of us. This is the faith we see in David's life as well. This faith is manifested when we make choices that reflect we are fully convinced that God has the power to do all he promises, "Without weakening in his faith, he [Abraham] faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:19-22.
This is exactly the kind of faith Saul lacked that led to his rejection as Israel's king by God. Saul made his choices in life based on the circumstances he found himself in rather than on the promises of God. We see this repeatedly in 1 Samuel.
The Scriptures are consistent in its claims that success in life is all about our faith in God and his power to do what he has promised!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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