That One Attitude

04.15.14

1 Samuel 17.47 47 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.” (NIV)

Armies gathered for war – it’s such an earthly theme. Since 1978 there are 10 national and international conflicts (current) where nearly three million people have perished. That’s not to mention the 21 others that have popped up since 1980. War is (a) hell*, and war happens all the time.

In Saul’s time there was continual war – an ongoing jihad of sorts. Israel was engaged in a conflict of survival against their perennially oppressive enemy, the Philistines. It was a turf war, and it should’ve been dealt with long before had Israel's ancestors done what they were supposed to have done.

So, during the days of Saul’s troubled kingship, there was only war, war, war. And into this war is introduced a significant character in Israel’s history: David of Bethlehem, the son of Jesse, the next anointed king of Israel. David is new to the scene but David brought to the battle what no one else seemed to have: a significant relationship with the Living God. God was David’s belief and David’s belief was his weapon.

Through a series of circumstances (read: 1 Samuel 17) David meets up on the battlefield with the Philistine champion, Goliath. And David sees Goliath (a giant of a man and a fierce opponent) as nothing more than a lion or a bear trying to steal one of his family’s sheep. To David, Goliath is just one more bear needing to be dealt with. But David saw what no one else seemed to see: God is the Winner of battles, not men. Men who believe are to go to war with this one attitude: We’ve already won because the battle is the Lord’s.

Of the many battles fought in this world today, I would say that none are fought with that one attitude. There may be belief that “’God’ is on our side”, but there isn’t the belief that the battle is the Lord’s, nor is there the belief that the battle is already won. Our God is too small for our fights today. (Or He isn’t welcome in those fights).

Our fights, our troubles, our conflicts – as weird, awkward, confusing, difficult, and untimely as they may seem – are opportunities to us from our gracious God to develop that one attitude; the sooner the better. It doesn’t mean the fights, conflicts and troubles will go away but it does mean if we see them as David saw them – in faith, confidence, and courage – we’ll see what they are, and what they are for: the development of our character on earth and our character in eternity.

It is letting God have the control He is entitled to, and it allows me to learn from Him in the only way I can: watching Him work mightily, marvelously, mysteriously, and majestically on my behalf in the midst of my difficulties, fights, conflicts, and troubles.

Father, may You find me a good and eager student in Your classroom – Amen.

*William Tecumseh Sherman - from his address to the graduating class of the Michigan Military Academy (19 June 1879)