1 Samuel 17:46
We are indeed beginning to realize and understand more and more that the swift epic of our lives is not one thing and God another. The two are inextricably bound together. However, we are getting the more to comprehend that God can exist without us but there is no “us” without Him. How we need Him today to function and make it from one moment to the next. Fernando Ortega’s song is so right, “I need thee, O I need Thee – Every hour I need thee – O bless me now, my Savior – I come to thee.” It expresses the real sentiment of the church’s beating heart. We so desperately, passionately need Him and the operations of His grace in our lives, especially in these last movements of time in this twenty–first century.
As we reflect on a word for this another eventful week, David’s encounter with Goliath remains thoroughly instructive. In 1 Samuel 17, David maximizes and magnifies God. He minimizes self and so indeed it ought to be. He is the Potter; we are the clay. He is everything; we are nothing. He is massively powerful; we are puny and powerless without Him.
We dare not go forth to meet the enemy without Him. Should we endeavor to do so, we would be pulverized and totally annihilated. With God we are more than conquers and evidently no foe can stand before us in the fray. It remains true, that as we stand behind Him – “No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper . . .” (Isaiah 54:17). In Him we remain unintimidated and invincible, even during these covid-19 times.
What intrigues me about the David/Goliath showdown is David’s prophetic word concerning the outcome of the battle! Before his actual combat with his formidable enemy, David seizes the opportunity to prophesy. In the passage he does not only testify about God victorious goodness in the past, but he then uses it as an occasion to prophesy. Based on what God did, David is emboldened to speak most assuredly of what that same God is going to do. He declares and affirms that the same God that wiped out the enemy and gave victory before, shall indeed do so again. He seems to see and subscribe to the notion that yesterday’s blessings and victories are but a practice run, a warm-up for today’s victories and miracles. In fact, he says so in no uncertain terms. He declares “. . . the Lord that delivered me . . . He will deliver me . . .” (1 Samuel 17:37). We not only testify, but we also prophesy!
As he actually stands before Goliath, he waxes even more confident. He is excessively bold as he states, “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46).
Based on this most insightful word, I am prompted to ask you – what is your confession as you confront the enemy today? What is your expectation? What are you expecting today? Like David I choose to entertain no doubts. There are no “ifs”, and “buts” about it – no “maybes!” I prophesy!
Not for one moment did David ever think that God would not show up today. The thought never entered his mind that he could ever be facing Goliath by himself. He just said Today – “This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand . . .” (v46). He therefore prophesied. He said, this day would be a special day – a day of supernatural deliverance and a day of divine interference! The question is what are you prophesying about this day? Speak the miracle into being! Speak it before it takes place! See it in the Spirit and speak! This day will the Lord deliver! Hallelujah! There’s power in your prophecy!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
