Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Battle Is the Lord's

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life


Clothed and Ready

1 Samuel 17:40-50  The Message

40 Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath.
41-42 As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed.
43 The Philistine ridiculed David. “Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?” And he cursed him by his gods.
44 “Come on,” said the Philistine. “I’ll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I’ll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice.”
45-47 David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!”
48-49 That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.
50 That’s how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!

For Reflection
The sling is a formidable weapon, certainly not a toy.  Those who were proficient at using a sling were the second line of defense (or offense)  positioned behind the archers, the first line of defense.  David, was proficient.  Unassuming David knew the power of a stone hurled from his sling. God had prepared David well. David, considered weak and foolish and too rash to be fit for battle, was confident. How confident are you in Gods preparation of you to fit your call?

Pray
for the confidence in God's plan and preparation so that you will be able to fulfill God's call.to you.

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