Title: Cowardly or Courageous?/ Topic: Facing Spiritual Battles

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:22-24, 45-50

22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.

45 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. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 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 into our hands."
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 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.
50 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.

Observation: The army of Israel was filled with soldiers who knew God, yet none of them had the faith to trust God to bring about victory when a fierce-looking enemy taunted and threatened them. Only David seemed to understand that when facing overwhelming odds, the only strategy that makes any sense is to count on God's strength and not on one's own to obtain victory. David didn't trust in his own ability but in what God could do through him. He had seen God deliver him before from dangerous animals that were much stronger than he was. He made clear that Goliath understood who was going to allow him to triumph. He declared God's supremacy over the situation with his mouth and came against the enemy with unconventional weapons and achieved great victory.

Application: I have a choice whenever the enemy of my soul attacks me. I can cower before him and refuse to engage in the battle like most of the army did, or I can display the courage of David and gain victory over the enemy with the unconventional weapons of spiritual warfare that God tells us to use: prayer, the Word (declaring it), the word of our testimony, and a righteous life (I am righteous because Jesus paid the debt for my sin and now I choose to obey his commands). Too often the Church as a whole, and we as individuals in the Church, take the cowardly route. Oh, that we would all rise up together and see the enemy defeated in our midst!

Prayer: Father, give me the heart of David who was unafraid of the threats and strength of the enemy. Let me be undeterred and unwavering in taking up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word, to defeat the enemy. May my prayers be those of a righteous man and avail much! Thank you for being greater than the enemy of our souls!
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.