Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 17:11, When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
What a sad picture we see here of someone who has strayed from God. Saul, at one time, was a brave warrior whom God used to deliver his people. In 1 Samuel 11, when Nahash the Ammonite came up against Jabesh Gilead, we read in verse 6, “Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.” Now, his relationship with God and God’s prophet, Samuel, is broken. Saul is faced with another episode of Israel being challenged by its enemies and reacts very differently to this threat. Let us keep in mind that the person who was best suited to meet Goliath’s challenge, in this instance, was Saul. Just as Goliath was the Philistines’ largest warrior, so Saul was Israel’s obvious choice. In 1 Samuel 9:2 we are told, “And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” The man who is described in 1 Samuel 14:52 as a brave, fierce, military leader, who was not a stranger to fighting against the Philistines is now filled with fear over the threats of one Philistine. What changed so drastically in his character and person that made him cower when he should have risen to the occasion? His relationship with God changed. We, as Christians, will suffer our greatest defeats, and experience the greatest fear, when we stray from God. Our enemies, the devil and his demons, love to use fear as a tactic to paralyze us in our daily living and service to the Lord. 1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The lion hunts and goes after the one in the herd who stray from the herd or who falls behind because they are weak or sick. The devils are no different. They see when we stray from God and Christian fellowship, from where we are to draw encouragement. They see when we are not praying or reading and studying God’s Word. That is when they launch their greatest attacks. For this reason we must be careful to maintain our intimacy with Jesus in our daily walk. James 4:7-8 clearly states, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The only way that we can maintain the courage we need to choose what is right in a world that is so corrupt, and a world that proclaims what is wrong to be right and vice versa, is to draw near to God in prayer and putting the Word of God into action in our personal walk with Christ. In Ephesians 6, we are told to put on the whole armor of God. However, note that in verse 10 we are told, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” The strength we need to overcome the fear that the devils use to drive us to inaction in serving the Lord in our daily living is found only in Christ. The Holy Spirit who indwells us is the source of our strength, and when we stray from God and become friends to the world and its ways, we grieve the Holy Spirit and weaken our Christian walk. Saul fought bravely whenever the Spirit came upon him. He was not afraid to challenge an entire army of Philistines; yet, when the Spirit left him, he found himself afraid to face one Philistine. Our courage and source of strength to face the impossible is only found in the Lord. I will leave us today with these verses, which I pray will encourage us: Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” This promise, made to Israel, is a promise we too can hold on to. Why? We can, because He also says to us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” When we stray from God, we set ourselves up for a fall, but when we draw close to Him and seek intimacy with Jesus, there is no power that can overcome us, for, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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