Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 21:9, So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
This may seem like an odd place to talk about giving to the LORD, but when we consider what was taking place in David’s life, this is actually a very good place to talk about just that. In chapter 17, verses 50 and 51, the account of how David used Goliath’s own sword to behead him is recorded for us. We know at that time that David fought against Goliath using a slingshot and a few stones. This victory began to elevate David’s popularity in the eyes of the people, much to King Saul’s dismay; who became fiercely jealous of David and the fame he was gaining. In the king’s service David went out to battle and slew many, but we never read anything about what weapon he used. The assumption being that he went to battle armed with a sword and armor. However, here we see that even though David could have kept Goliath’s sword and carried it into battle as a trophy sword and possibly as a token of fame and popularity before the people, he chose instead to give it to the LORD to be displayed in the House of God. In essence, what David did was give honor to whom honor belonged for his victory over Goliath, the LORD God. He took what God provided for him in this life and death battle, and rather than keep it for himself as a treasure and token of his victory, he chose instead to give the honor to God and give back to the LORD what He provided for David in that crucial moment. In this lies a very important principle about what it means to give back to God what belongs to God. In John 3:30 John the Baptist told us that, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” In other words, as we live for God, people should see more of Him than they see of us. One of the ways to do this is to take every opportunity to give God the honor that belongs to Him when He accomplishes both great and small in our lives. Is God jealous in respect to His own glory? The short answer is, “yes”. Acts 12:20-23 we read, “Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. 21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” Yet, how often do we take credit for our accomplishments in order to satisfy our own pride, without a second thought about what God thinks about our foolish boasting? Every time we accomplish anything that is acknowledged by others, it is an opportunity to lift up the Name of Jesus before them. Not only did David give honor back to the LORD, but he also gave up something that would have been beneficial in the battles he fought going forward. Now, while he is on the run from Saul and has nothing to defend himself with, God has once again given him the sword that he laid down before the LORD. What are we holding back for ourselves that belongs to the LORD? Before we answer that question, let us be reminded of one thing…everything we have and see around us belongs to God. Deuteronomy 10:14 clearly states, “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it.” So I ask again, “What are we holding back for ourselves that belongs to the LORD?” When God has been so good to us in giving us His only begotten Son so that we can have eternal life (John 3:16), how can we deny Him anything He asks of us? Can we in all good conscience hold back our tithes and offerings? Can we hold back our service? Can we hold back our lives? In Romans 12:1-2 the Apostle Paul makes this plea, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” When we freely give back to God what rightfully belongs to Him, beginning with His own glory, we give Him the opportunity to glorify Himself and bless us by blessing others with what we give to Him wholeheartedly and cheerfully. The one thing we can be sure of, as David experienced in that moment, is that when we give to God what is His, He will never forsake us when we are facing our time of need, no matter what the need might be.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free 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 free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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