A Fearless Defender

A Fearless Defender

Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

I Samuel 17:37

One of the most captivating scenes in the Scripture, is the encounter between David and Goliath. It is the stuff of legends. Here again, we see God developing Christlike character in David. Jesse, David’s father, sent him to the Valley of Elah, where his brothers were serving in the army. As he arrived, a giant Philistine named Goliath came out to challenge any Israelite to single combat. The battle over servitude would depend on who won the combat. David immediately volunteered. ‘Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”’ In this manner, David evidences likeness to Christ as The Great Defender of His People. Christ is utterly prepared to put Himself between His People and their bitterest enemies. One of the most compelling scenes, from the passion of Christ, was that in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ stood between the mob and His disciples, saying, ‘Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.’ We understand from all of the rest of Scripture as it bears upon Christ, the Great Defender of His People, that He shall not fail to defeat all of His enemies, and all of ours. In this way, God was, even in his early years, developing David into a Christlike leader. Let us dwell today, upon the scene before us. Let us contemplate the work of God in David, and beyond that, the Person of Christ, the Great Defender of His People. This gives us great hope, great courage, and great confidence. Against all the enemies of His People, Jesus shall never fail.

Our Great God and Our Defender, we praise You,
that You never fail to stand between Your people,
and all who would do them harm.
We rejoice that You will defeat all of Your enemies,
and all of ours, for Your Own Name’s Sake, and for Your Own Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning