Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Tues., 8/25/09 Devotion (1 Sam. 17:26b)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Samuel 17:26b, where we read these words:

" . . . For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

The church needs "Davids" today, who will stare down the bloated "Goliaths" of this world, who seek to "defy the armies of the living God." David did not fear Goliath, because he (David) knew that the true God was on his side; and Goliath had nothing to lean on but his own strength, and his hope in his fake (Philistine) gods.

So it is with all churchmen today: God's enemies parade themselves in front of us; they try to get "in our faces"; and they do everything they can to seek to dismantle all that is good in the world. But the church may say with David, "Who [are these uncircumcised Philistines, that they] should defy the armies of the living God?"

[Puritan quote of the day: "We must go to heaven by hell gate; and he that is not troubled sometimes by Satan is possessed by him." --Wil-
liam Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]