Understanding Covenant
“David asked the men standing near him, ‘…Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’” -1 Samuel 17:26
Most of us are probably familiar with the incredible story of David and Goliath. But, we might not be as familiar with why David could be so bold in his courage to defeat the giant Philistine Goliath.
David was the youngest of 8 sons, and he was probably around 17 years old during the time the Israelites were fighting the Philistines. From time to time he went back and forth to bring food to his brothers who were a part of the Israelite army. One particular time, David heard the giant Goliath from the Philistine camp shouting at the Israelites and challenging them. He had been doing this for 40 days. The Israelites were all afraid of him because he was so big. No one had yet had the courage to challenge him, and when the Israelites saw him, “They all fled in great fear.” (1 Samuel 17:24)
But David had a different perspective. Probably because he had run out of options by this time, King Saul gave David a chance at Goliath.
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (v.45-46). And so, David used a stone in a slingshot, and killed him.
Often the story of David and Goliath is taught with reference to having courage in God. But, it was because David understood God’s covenant with the Israelites that he knew he could defeat him. A covenant is a promise broken only by death. In David’s day, covenants were very serious matters. No one broke a covenant, even if the other party didn’t fulfill their end of the bargain. So David knew he could trust in His God to show up!
Have you recognized the power in God’s covenant with his sons and daughters? May it be a reminder and an encouragement that we can overcome anything that comes in our path, because we are sons and daughters of the living God.
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