David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17 : 10, 11 – And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
(Then David, the shepherd boy turned up …..)
1 Samuel 17 : 51, 52 ….. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
During my latest reading of this famous encounter, it struck me how very quickly the situation changed when fear flipped sides.
I also found it amazing that the Israelites were able to instantly arise to defeat their enemy, because this means that they already had in their possession, the capability to triumph all along, but did not know it.
This got me thinking about:
- the various situations in my own life that are currently bounded by fear
- the possibility that the ability to overcome (in Christ) is also already within my grasp at this time
- the amazing possibility that these situations could radically change as quickly as it did for Israelites that day, when a little shepherd boy led them to boldness and faith in the Living God