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Reflect
The Philistines have more than recovered from their defeat at the hands of Saul (vv 13-14). Now, twenty some years later they have a not so secret weapon. The weapon’s name is Goliath.
To this day the valley of Elah is a completely open area, no buildings in sight. On that day it was crawling with Philistines, horses and Israelites!
Jesse must have been anxious, he had three sons in the army at a time when King Saul was becoming increasingly unfit for his role and the enemy seemed invincible.
But when things could not have been worse for Israel from a human perspective, from the divine perspective hope was dawning in the person of young David! Not only was he an excellent harpist, he had a natural, open inquisitiveness about what was going on around him. He asked questions; just to be sure he fully understood what he was seeing.
What is the reward for the man who fights Goliath? Who is this man who dares to defy God? He asks his questions repeatedly, just to be sure he was getting it straight.
David was beginning to see the whole picture from the perspective of God.
Respond
Do I usually see my surrounding from a human perspective only, or do I think to consider my environment from God’s perspective?
Do I take the time to ask questions of clarification? Of enough people? Or do I jump to conclusions too quickly?
Father, help me to view my circumstances from your point of view today. Help me to see what you are doing, right around me! Give me a heart to perceive and eyes to see.
Gord Martin
Gord’s ministry experiences include church planting in Ecuador and Columbia as well as a lengthy pastoral ministry at Lincoln Road Chapel in Waterloo, ON. He was the founder of Vision Ministries Canada which is like a mission because of its church planting emphasis and provides some of the services of a denomination to 200+ Canadian churches. He continues to work with VMC with responsibilities for immigrant churches and international projects. Heather is his lifelong partner. They have three sons and five grandchildren.