The Battle is STILL the Lord’s

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:45 (HCSB) -  “… the whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’S.”

Most of us are familiar with the biblical account of young Jewish David who slew the Philistine giant, Goliath.  (1 Sam. 17:16-52) It is worthwhile on occasion to revisit these events, just to sharpen our perspective when it comes to facing our enemies.  Many people are tempted to relegate the lessons taught in this passage to mere Sunday school children’s stories that lack relevance to the present-day “giants” we face.

This Scriptural event, on closer examination highlights some important considerations of battling our adversaries today.  In purposing to live life in a way that honors our Lord, we, like David, must: (1) be able to discern exactly who our real enemies are!  David, who was no “undercover worshiper” of Yahweh, knew that the Philistine mocked and derided his God; that made him David’s enemy; (2) when we are conscious of being on our God-appointed post, it is essential that we not be moved by others’ inaccurate assessment of who we are.  (1 Sam. 17:28)   We must always possess an “A-O-1” mentality—i.e., an “audience-of-One” mindset-- that ONE being our omniscient and omnipotent Savior God!  We must: (3) remember all the past deliverances our God accomplished for us, humbly realizing that the favorable outcome had nothing to do with our deserving anything!

David in this account was clearly God-conscious of his track record of being delivered from fierce adversaries in the past (v. 37).  He even likened Goliath to those  predators he’d  defeated because of his close relationship with Yahweh Sabaoth (the God of the Angelic Host).  Seeing his brothers succumbing to the enemy’s intimidation, he must have wondered how big WAS the God that his brothers and countrymen served!  Did they even HAVE a genuine TRUST and confidence in Him?  David surely did and gladly boasted (gloried) in his Lord (1 Sam. 17:45; 1 Cor. 1:31)!

Prayer:  Dear ABBA, forearmed with genuine faith in Your Son Christ Jesus and a habitual obedience to Your word, help us to consistently walk in Your truth that says, “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.”  (1 Jn. 4:4).  Thank You, LORD, in Jesus’ name!  Amen!

(by Denise Diggs)