Know God Rules

At the Friday night Bible study we spoke of the personal relationship David had with God, for he referred to the LORD in Psalm 59 as "my strength," "my defence and refuge" and "my God of mercy."  As enemies surrounded him like a pack of feral dogs baying for his blood, David desired they would be scattered and their alliance disbanded so they would "...know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth" (Psalm 59:13).  It is remarkable that God's strength and mercy demonstrated by scattering David's enemies would be a global testimony, but here we are speaking of these qualities of God's unchanging character thousands of years later, the LORD David called "my Shepherd."

David's desire was that all the world would know the God who rules in Israel and is sovereign over all.  When the children of Israel and the Philistines set themselves up on mountains opposite one another and Goliath defied the armies of the living God, David was indignant no one stood up to face him.  He received permission from king Saul to face Goliath in battle by faith in God who delivered him from lion and bear.  The champion of Gath cursed David by his idols, and David boldly stated his purpose in fighting Goliath to his face in 1 Samuel 17:45-47:  "Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands."

David's faith in God made this conflict in the valley of Elah an incident of universal importance.  This was not merely a shepherd boy contending with a larger, more accomplished and better kitted warrior, but a showdown between the idols of Philistia and the living God of Israel.  The impact of David's victory over Goliath was enabled by God who reigns in Israel and is sovereign over all the earth.  By David felling Goliath with sling and stone, those who assembled would know without a doubt God does not save with sword and spear for the battle is the LORD'S.  The Israelites looked at the size of Goliath's sword and shield and marvelled over the weight of his spearhead and armour.  They had forgotten that God would fight their battles, and thus no weapon formed against them would prosper.

As God's people by faith in Jesus, we too can have the approach David did to make the conflict in the valley of Elah a divine concern by desiring God to be glorified so all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.  The immutable, eternal, omnipotent and living God remains on the throne to this day, and the battle is the LORD's.  Those who trust in themselves, their swords or their allegiances will fail, but they who trust in the LORD will walk in His victory according to God's strength and mercy.  May it be our testimony of God my strength, my defence, my shield and refuge, my God of mercy who rules to the ends of the earth, that He is worthy to be praised be heard by all the earth for ages to come.