|
|
|
If you have found these messages useful and encouraging you may want to help in maintaining this site. For more information Please contact us by clicking here Our e-mail is thedivinepage@yahoo.com
|
Fighting the enemy with the weapons of God
All those gathered here will know that it is not the sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give all of you into our hands 1 Samuel 17:47
1 Samuel 17 records for us the account of David and Goliath. It tells of the way Saul responded to David’s brave offer to fight the giant. This historical text relates one of the most significant moments in the life of the people of Israel. It is a model passage, demonstrating the importance of using appropriate weapons to fight the enemies we face as the people of God.
In our battlefield to mobilize Churches to begin warfare against the enemy we face giants like David’s Goliath. This man was physically greater than David. He was almost three metres (9 feet, 9 inches) tall, and David was but a “young man” by comparison. Goliath was there to fight the trembling flock of Israel. No one not even Saul who stood a head over all the Israelites was ready to fight him. David came as someone simply willing and able to fight the great giant. David proved to be a man of vision, courage and valor but beyond this, a man filled with the Spirit of God. The way David faced the battle using the weapons fashioned by his experience with God is an example to us who try to approach the challenge of mobilizing Churches to begin the arduous task of facing off the giants in the field.
Let us see how David faced the different challenges before him.
1. The Challenge of confronting opposition and criticism within the Camp One of the major problems we can face when we offer to fight giants is the opposition and criticism that comes from within ourselves and our own people. It does not make sense, but we can be defeated even before entering the battlefield. This is exactly what David faced when he decided to ask, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (Verse 26).
First, David encountered opposition from his brothers (verses 28 to 29). According to verse 28, when Eliab, his older brother, heard of David’s interest in what was happening, he spoke to him saying, ”Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” Instead of being proud of David’s valor, David’s brother was angry with him. Unusual as it may seem, David did not stop to argue but “turned away to someone else...(verse 30)”. The point here is not turn away from opposition that comes from within but that we turn away from a loser mentality, that refuses to believe that we are able to do greater things with God’s help.
Following from David’s mentality we need to embrace an attitude which has within it the phrase “all things are possible with God...” The time has come when we should believe that we are able with God’s help to do things far beyond our observable limitations. We need to change our mentality.
The second opposition David faced came from the establishment-King Saul (verses 33-37). David’s offer finally came to Saul’s attention. It is remarkable to see David’s courage in saying to the King, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him (verse 32).”
Saul’s response to this brave declaration clearly indicated his prejudice due to David’s appearance. He said to David, “You are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth (verse 33b).
It is easy to discount somebody because of his appearance or apparent lack of experience. According to the text, he did not even remember who David was (see verse 55). Perhaps for those of us who are discouraged because of our own inexperience or youth, may we take heart that the Lord looks at the heart and not as other men who sees the outside.
David’s response to Saul’s prejudice was not self defense or an apology, but it was a reaffirmation of his own principles and experience. David’s mind and heart were clear and pure. He did not take time to address Saul’s prejudice and fears. Instead, he directly told Saul about his past experiences. “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth...your servant has killed both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has defied the armies of the living God (verses 34 to 36)
David understood God’s power in his life. He knew he was able to defeat Goliath because God was with him. When we know for sure what we are able to do through the power of the Spirit of God, we do not need to be ashamed of our deeds. God is God and as he enables so shall we do.
Perhaps we feel inadequate to make that one important step to face down the obstacles put up by the opposition. Let us be courageous by looking back at what God has done with us. Mobilizing Churches for the mission field is like a householder who tenderly cares for his plants. There are dangers of criticisms and over expectations. There are opposing voices who question the very concept of missions. When we feel inadequate in the face of these challenges, let us remember David who went about serving God not with counter arguments and excuses but with confidence that God will change hardened hearts. We have seen how he has worked in us and we are confident that he will be able to work in the hearts of others.
2. The Challenge of choosing the right methods Like most people, Saul believed it was impossible to fight without proper armor. Therefore he did what he considered proper; he determined to clothe David with his own armor so David would be able to face the giant. He never thought to ask whether his armor would fit David. He did not consider if, instead of helping David, his armor would hinder him. Saul just thought that since his armor worked for him, it will work for David. Does that sound familiar? It frequently happens when we try to solve problems in other cultural contexts. We assume that our own methods must be the best for the people we are working with.
Here is the case in which someone who has experience on one battlefield unconsciously applies the same method with someone bound for another battlefield. It is worth noting that David did not refuse to try the armor. He gave it a chance, but soon found out that it was not the best way for him to enter his particular battlefield. The principle is clear. What works in one battlefield may not work in another. Each battle comes with a different set of parameters and we need to adapt where it is crucial. For those of us who are bound for the mission field may we remember that we must adapt current methods to current problems and where these do not sometimes apply, we must create new ways of battling the enemy. The same goes for those of us who are busily mobilizing Churches for missions.
Realizing that he could not use Saul’s methods (his armor and sword) David “put them off”. He then took his own weapons and used his own strategy to fight. We are told in verse 40 that David took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and with his sling in his hand approached the Philistine. David knew what he was able to do with the things that were familiar to him.
What a tremendous message from this passage to those of us who are moving into the mission field. We need to remind ourselves that sometimes the simplest tools are the best in certain situations. I am reminded of how the simplest evangelistic method of making friends can break through some of the hardest to reach people groups especially those who are legally insulated from overt evangelistic methods of tracting, crusades and public distributions of the bible. Let us not despise little things and deem some simplistic. Often, these simplistic devices may be the answer to a particular field environment.
We need to learn adaptability without looking down on some methods. God knows the particular context we are in and we must try whatever is at hand for His glory. David is an example of this to us. While he was experienced and had faith in what he knew God could do through him, he did not refuse to give Saul’s methods a try. Nevertheless, he was courageous enough to say, “I cannot go with this. Saul, I cannot do it your way; let me do it my way. God has shown me different methods for fighting the battle and I trust they will work with this giant.” David’s goal was to give God the glory and honor. He was not looking for his own exaltation but for God’s. When answering Goliath’s challenge, he said, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defiled...All those gathered here will know that it is not the sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give all of you into our hands (verse 45 and 46)”.
May we remember that ultimately it is the Lord who triumphs. Scripture is replete with accounts of God using unconventional people, weapons and methods to win battles in order to drive home the point that it is He who is fighting the battle. And it is to him that we must ascribe all glory and honor.
Adapted from Rodolfo Girion(1995) in Fighting the enemy with new methods, Establishing Ministry Training, (Pasadena:William Carey) pg 139 to 144 |
