Tuesday, February 16, 2010

It's Not My Destiny to Die in the Battle

Recently, my pastor at our new church has been doing a series of lectures on dealing with the giants in one's life. He's brought many wonderful truths from I Samuel 17 where David has his historic conflict with Goliath. He pointed out how Goliath even propelled David into his calling and was part of the process for growing David into the King he was destined to be.

I thank the Lord that His word is living and for making it alive in me. The Lord showed me a wonderful truth as I was meditating on this whole topic of Giants that we face in life. Before David had the encounter with Goliath in I Samuel 17, he had already been anointed as King in I Samuel 16. See verse 13.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward (I Samuel 16:13a).

At the point that God anointed David as King, it was his destiny to be King of Israel and to be a mighty man of God. His calling was confirmed when one of Saul's servants spoke of David being skilled with the harp - able to soothe Saul's mind from the influence of the evil spirit that was upon him. He said, "Look I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him" (I Samuel 16:18). God caused this servant to be able to see David for who he really was in God. David had not yet proven himself in war or done anything that most people would consider to be an act of valor - yet the man saw that "the LORD was with him". As "anointed" as he was, David was still out there with the sheep (I Samuel 16:19)!

Then comes the historic conflict in chapter 17. When he had heard of the words Goliath had been saying against the armies of God he spoke with boldness saying, "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the Living God?" (I Samuel 17:26b). Why was David so bold in his speech? We know about his history with God - the Lion and the bear (v.37). We also know that God was continually with him (I Samuel 16:18), but consider this. It was not David's destiny to die on the battle field at the hands of Goliath! God didn't anoint him as king only to die in a noble, yet foolish, attempt to take on this giant. David couldn't die out there. It was impossible. No weapon formed against him could prosper!

Similarly, you and I were not called to die on the battle field against our adversary the devil and the giants he has setup in our lives. God has only allowed the giants so they could be defeated and we could march around with their severed heads - proclaiming the faithfulness of God. God did not call us to die in our struggle against sin and the situations that try us. He did not bring us out of sin, out of Egypt, only to kill us in the desert. He who has started a good work in us will finish it (Philippians 1:6). I know the thoughts I think towards you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). He says, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). We already have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57).

Finally, may I encourage you and encourage myself, as well, knowing that, "whatever is born of God overcomes the world (I John 5:4). Therefore, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome (Numbers 13:30b).