As the Israelites woke up one morning they thought it
would be just like all the other days. They were sitting on a mountain and the
Philistines were sitting on another mountain. In the valley between them were a
man, but not just any man; this man was about 9 feet tall. His armour weighed
about 150 pounds, his spearhead weighed 20 pounds, and it took two men to carry
his shield. This man, whose name was Goliath would come to the valley and call
unto the Israelites. He would challenge them each morning, wanting them to
choose a man to fight him feeling very sure that none of the Israelites could
beat him so he taunted them relentlessly. He did this continuously for forty
days, but no one had the faith to step forward, everyone was very afraid.
One
day David was bringing some food to his brothers, who were there in the fight,
and while he was there Goliath came out and began the challenge once again and
as David stood there listening to this man challenge and defile the name of God
he could not understand why his brothers or anyone else would not step forward
and fight this man. David did not see him as a giant but as an enemy who dared
to challenge and try to defy the armies of the living God.
Even
though David was only a boy of about 12 years of age he wanted to accept the
challenge, but the king didn’t think he could fight and beat this giant because
he was only a young boy. After much persuasion David convinced King Saul to let
him fight. King Saul tried to dress David in his armour, but it was too big,
the armor was made for Saul not David. David could not move for it was too
heavy for him and he told Saul that this was not his armor.
David
started for the valley with his staff in his hand on the way he picked up 5
smooth stones in the brook as he crossed onto the other shore. When Goliath
realized that they sent over just a young boy and was only carrying a staff, he
cursed and mocked him for he was so sure that the battle would be won quite
quickly.
As
David stepped forward he pulled out one of the stones from his bag. He called
unto the giant. You come to me with spear and a sword but I come to you in the
name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have
defiled.
When
he let go of the sling, God guided that stone to the only place Goliath did not
have protected by armour. He hit him in the forehead, but it not only hit hard,
the stone sank into his skull thereby killing him instantly. David then used
the enemy’s sword to cut off his head.
We
have heard this story many times, even as children but have you really thought
about what David was doing. He was just crazy enough to believe that if he
believed, God would deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines. This was
Israel’s Independence Day, the battle was won, and they were free from the
Philistines.
America
fought for freedom in 1776, and we have had to fight again over the years in
our history; we now have the freedom to worship God each and every day but how
long will we be able to worship freely. The freedom to raise our hands in
praise, to pray for the sick, whether it is in church, on the street corner, or
even in the middle of Wal-Mart. To know when we lay down to sleep at night we
can rest in peace that if he returns tonight we will be there to meet him.
I’m
just as proud to be a Christian as I am an American for we are a blessed people
and a blessed nation. Every day I fall more in Love with my Jesus because even
though he knew I would fail him he loves me. And I look forward to the day when
He splits the Eastern skies to carry us all away. The cross and the flag they
go together. Remember what this country was founded on, Freedom of Worship, so let’s pull ourselves off the bench, raise our hands, and shout with
a loud voice, “I’m free I’m free, praise the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings
because He died just for me.
Written by:
Karen ReNee
