“But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NRSV) [1]
This Scripture comes from a story which all of you probably know by heart. The Israelites and Philistines had been at each other but the Israelites were getting worn down. The Philistines were continuing to taunt the Israelites who knew that they couldn’t defeat the Philistines. Then David comes along with food for his brothers. David knows the power of the Almighty God and takes on the challenge of Goliath. He picks up five stones and hits Goliath with the first one which knocks him out. When David beheads Goliath the Philistines run away but the Israelites, who were encouraged by David’s faith and the working of God, go after them.
Why is it important for you to meet with other Christians at church or bible study, etc.? You might have physical or mental problems plus the demons putting ideas into your head like, “I’ll never get better. I might as well quit trying to do better.” This is the way the Israelites were feeling and thinking. They knew it was all over. Then David shows up. David knows God will take care of them. The same happens in a group of Christians. You might be down but then the Lord has someone there with a word to pick you up and give you hope. Once you see and hear them you will be encouraged and get back into the fight as the Israelites did. Then the next time you get together you might be the encourager.
“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NRSV)
By Dean W. Masters
Owner of the Masters List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/masterslist
Unedited redistribution approved