This will be a short post today, but it was certainly not a dry read today. Today was the rise of David. More correctly, this was the story of how David sought God's will for the people of Israel and how God used him for His glory.
It is also the story of the decline of Saul, a leader chosen by God, but who steadily forgot God or relied on his own strength instead of completely trusting God.
My favourite passages from the reading are in chapter 16. Saul and Samuel were looking for someone to succeed Saul's throne. Saul was looking for a strong, brave, courageous man. Saul was looking for tangibles. The LORD rebukes him when he says, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). The LORD craves righteousness, a clean heart, a passionate God-seeking, righteousness-seeking, justice-seeking, and love-filled heart.
Today was the story of David and Goliath. But it was not a story of big guy versus little guy or brawn versus brain. It has everything to do with righteousness versus wickedness. It seems to me to be a story of celebrating not the physical attributes of people, but their faith, love of God, and character. Without God, the fight would have been no match, and David would have been just another tally mark in a long list of dead Israelites by Goliath. It seems to me that the difference highlighted by the Scripture is David's complete faith in God, his righteousness for standing up for what was right. This is juxtaposed against two different people: Saul and Goliath. Saul seems to represent the those of hollow faith. Goliath represented wickedness. God gave David victory, again highlighting that He works through the "least of these", those of character and faith, love and justice, not of arrogance and self-reliance.
I am generally an anxious person. I will admit it. I think that is why 1 Sam. 17:47 spoke to me so vividly. "All those gather here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's..." Why should I worry about the outcome of the turmoil in my life? The whole thing, both sides, are His. Either outcome will be OK, because He loves me and He sees me (Gen. 16:13). I will never walk alone. Like David, I need to walk in faith. Though what I have in strength and knowledge is a sling and stones against the scaled armor and bronze spears of the trials I will face in my life, the LORD sees me. He knows me, and there is peace when He is near me.
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