Have you ever reached a point, where you felt like all was unraveling around you? We are all familiar with the saying “when it rains, it pours”. This year, has been like no other, in recent memory. From the Global Pandemic, which has left no one unimpacted, to the riots, mandates, masks, schools, even the elections. I’ve heard stories, of being unable to see loved one’s due to the quarantine, small business owners struggling to make ends meet. Children and educators trying to navigate attending school amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The global church navigating how to continue operating, with the various rules, mandates, etc.
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One could say, that in the past year, we all have felt some sort of level of anxiety, fear, depression, all very real emotions. In a sense, we’ve been in the midst of a “downpour” in 2020. Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at our local church about King David, and his victory over Goliath. It’s always been one of my favorite stories. Perhaps, b/c he has such an awesome name.
The life of David is truly remarkable, as with so many other hero’s of the Christian Faith, his destiny, was spoken over him at a young age, but it would then be followed by a period of Waiting. It would be approximately 10 years between David being anointed the King over the Israelites and when he would actually ascend the throne.
He would go back to the Kingdom with King Saul, following his victory over Goliath. He married Saul’s daughter as was promised to him by Saul prior to his defeat of Goliath. Things didn’t get any better for him though, as he was living under the roof of King Saul. Saul was a very bitter ruler, he was jealous of David. The Presence of God was no longer on King Saul, for he had disobeyed God’s orders. He recognized the Presence of God in David’s life, and would attempt to kill him on multiple occasions. Saul’s son Jonathan, who was in covenant with David, would save his life, and foiled an assassination attempt on his friend by his father. Telling David to Flee the Kingdom and hide.
I imagine the emotions that David felt, as he ran for his life, were very similar to some of the emotions we have felt in this past year. God this can’t be what you had planned for me. God why are all these things happening to me? What happened to all the promises that you’ve spoken over my life father? Why am I running from the Kingdom, that I have already been anointed to serve as King over?
There is an interesting twist to David’s life, as he is fleeing. He left so hastily, he had no provisions, he had no food, he had no weapons. He comes to the land of Nob in the 21st Chapter of 1 Samuel, he encounters the priest Ahimelech. He is hungry, and tells the priest that he is on a mission from the King to protect his identity. The Priest gives him 5 loaves of the Holy bread, b/c there was no other bread in the Temple. David then tells the Priest that he left so hastily, he had no weapons and needed a sword or spear. The priest replied “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is non but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.” Vs. 9 (ESV)
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David’s reply “There is none like that; give it to me.”, is such a beautiful and redemptive statement. Here’s David, fleeing for his life, from everything that he had known. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be. Things were not looking the way that he thought God had told him they would. He would leave Nob and enter the Cave of Adullam, where it says in Vs. 2 “everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him.”
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In the midst of this escape though, in the middle of the downpour, he received this Sword, which was a clear reminder of the past Victories of his Faithful God. Sometimes it’s good for us, to “Remember the Victory” that has already been won in our lives. To take the sword of our enemies that reveal God’s Faithfulness to complete every good work in you. “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
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I just wanted to encourage someone today. Remember the Victory. When we are attacked by anxiety, fear, anger, etc. Remember the Victory. Go back and write down the previous victories. Name the Giant’s that God has already defeated in your life. There will be days that it’s raining, but that never negates the promises of a good and faithful God. You were created for such a time as this.