Last week we learned that we should
focus on how big our God is and not how big our giants are. He is
mighty to save and as we look up at Him at all times, our giants
will simply pale in comparison. And that is the start of
victory!
Okay, so last week we saw that
Goliath came every day and challenged the forces of Israel. And
Saul and his entire army were greatly afraid. And this was where
David entered the scene.
He was still at home tending the
sheep, and not at the battle field. Three of his older brothers
were there. So David's father, Jesse, sent David to take dried
grain and ten loaves to his brothers, as well as ten cheeses for
the captain of their thousands. Jesse also wanted news from them
and wanted to know how they were doing. So David went and as he
arrived at the battle field he left the supplies with the supply
keeper and joined his brothers. There he also saw Goliath and heard
what he said. He also heard about the reward for the person who
killed Goliath. David started asking around and notice how his
brother, Eliab, reacted:
"Why did you come down here?
And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I
know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come
down to see the battle." 1 Samuel 17:28
And notice how David reacts:
"What have I done now?" 1
Samuel 17:29
It was clear from this interaction
that there was not a lot of love lost between the brothers. Eliab
wanted to degrade David. He knew that he was anointed to be king
and yet he wanted to humiliate him. Notice the word 'few' that he
uses. He wanted to degrade the work that David was doing. He wanted
him to think he was worth nothing. And the way David reacted
suggests that this was not the first time that his brother looked
down on him and scoffed at him.
But did this stop David? No. The
Bible says he continued asking about Goliath. So much so that Saul
heard of it and sent for him.
Now we can learn from this. When
God places something on our hearts, we shouldn't stop even if
people ridicule us and call us names. When we have the conviction
to do something, we must continue with it and not allow other
people's opinions to sway us. This made me think of Noah as well.
He was ridiculed and scoffed at on a daily basis for years. Yet he
had the conviction to build the ark and he continued to do so and
his act of obedience saved his and his family's lives.
If you know in your heart that you
must do something, you must do it. Do not allow the fickle opinions
of others to sway you. Stand up and continue with what God has told
you to do. At the end of the day, only His opinion matters and you
would have obtained a big victory for His Kingdom. People are so
easily influenced; do not allow that to happen to you. You have His
Spirit inside of you and you can hear His voice. Follow that voice
and let all other voices disappear. Can you imagine if David
allowed his brother to sway him with his comments? He would never
have become king. No, David knew who he was in God and he hated the
fact that Goliath was defying his mighty, living God. He stood up
for God and for what is right and the rest is history.
Father, help us to close our ears
to the dooming voices of others. Speak to us loud and clear. We
want to follow You and You only. You are our Lord and King, glory
on high! Amen