Warriors Arise: July 24, 2022
1 Samuel 17:43 (NKJV) So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
That last two Arise blogs have been to get us to this one. Remembering the elementary comeback, "Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me." Now makes me laugh. What are the first words the Philistine shouts to David? "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?
He looked when David came onto the battlefield. Then he looks again to size him up. He recognizes that he is young, ruddy and good looking. He probably isn't thinking David is coming to fight him. He might be thinking David has a message from the king. But, at some point me must recognize David is there to fight. Which is why he then is angry. This young, this boy, this nobody who doesn't even have armor or someone to carry a shield, is coming at him with what? A stick! A shepherd's stick! What is that all about?
1 Samuel 17:40 (NKJV) Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
This is what the Philistine saw. A boy with no armor. He saw a staff. David is too far away to see what else he might have. The Philistine cannot see any armor, because there isn't any. The Philistine can't see a weapon, because it is in the shepherd's bag. The Philistine probably thinks he can use David's staff to pick the food between his teeth. Maybe the Philistine even thinks he will pull the staff out of the boys hand and turn him over his knee to give him a whooping. But he is completely insulted that Saul would send a boy with a stick.
The irony of the elementary comeback is that David came with a stick and stones and that is what hurt the Philstine. It didn't just hurt the enemy, the stone killed the enemy.
David pens in Psalms that God is his Rock. It was a rock, a smooth stone that killed the Philistine and it only took one. This is why it is so important to have the Word of God in your heart. The enemy looks at you and I as as if we are totally insignificant, powerless to his might. But he doesn't see what You have within you. He doesn't see the arsenal of stones, the verse from the Bible You have selected for this battle. This is why you and I need our time with the Lord in the Word of God. We need to find those five smooth stones needed for the battle ahead. We need to know which battle we are facing so we have have the verse, the stone, the Word of God that will silence the enemy before us.
Father, You are amazing in all of Your ways. If the Philistine had know Israel's history he would have know the number of times You used a stick to perform the miraculous. The shepherd's staff was important. Even though the enemy may not see the potential in what I have with me, I know walking with You, entering into a battle with Your strength and the exact verses for the battle before me is so incredibly important and powerful. You are amazing. I will search for the verses necessary for the battle ahead. I will carry them with me to the battle. The staff was a point of security and power. It let David know he was not alone. I know You are with me. I recognize Your presence. I will take You with me into the battle. I will not fight alone. You are my God and I fight with You by my side and Your Word to silence the enemy in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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