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News From the Quiver November 2002 |
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Holy Highway, Sacred Road |
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The Sacred Road contains many stories of our creator and our Savior that help us with our walk today. One story is about a boy named David. David belonged to the tribe of Israel and he took care of his father’s sheep each day. David’s three oldest brothers had followed the leader of their tribe, Saul, to war with the Philistines. Goliath was a champion of the Philistines and was said to be over 9’ tall. Every day for 40 days, Goliath would come out and taunt Israel’s warriors. He would challenge them to send just one of their warrior’s out to fight him. Everyday, Goliath would issue this challenge and everyday the hearts of the Israelites would be dismayed and filled with terror. They looked at Goliath and saw in him their enemy—bigger than life—and they ran from him in fear. 1 Sam 17:25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. NIV One of these days, David was sent out by his father to take some food from home to his brothers who were in this battle. While David was there, he saw Goliath and heard his threats. But when he looked at Goliath, he saw an enemy of God. David asked Saul for permission to fight this Goliath. So David went to battle with the giant with a right heart ready to serve God and to end the taunting and threats of God’s enemy. He knew in His own strength he was no match for Goliath, but he did not submit to that fear. Instead he submitted to the strength of God to save him and his tribe.
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1 Sam 17:45 “David said to the Philistines, ‘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.’” V47 “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give all of you into our hands.” David took a sling shot and a stone and putting all of his faith in God, he struck Goliath in the forehead and Goliath fell. While Goliath was down, he took Goliath’s own sword and killed him. Jesus taught something that speaks to this in John 9:1ff. Jesus was out with his disciples and they saw a blind man and wanted to know why he was blind. They had decided that it must be because his parents had sinned. But Jesus told them they were wrong for trying to reason why this thing happened. John 9:3 “Jesus said, ‘You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause and effect here. Look instead for what God can do.” The Message Bible. Then Jesus healed the blind man. When we find ourselves up against Goliaths, or walking around blind, do we become like the tribe of Israel, looking at ourselves and reasoning that we cannot overcome? Or like the disciples, wondering who we should blame for this? The Sacred Road helps us to see that we need to be like David and Jesus, looking to see what God will do. It’s not about us—it’s about HIM! John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
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