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1 Samuel 17:45 (NIV1984)
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,
but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty,
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
I too often forget that there is a spiritual war going on - forgetting does not make it go away. It just leaves me and people I care about open to attack from the enemy. Usually when I think of spiritual weapons I think of the ones listed in Ephesian 6. You know the helmet of salvation, the breast plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, the gospel peace shoe and the sword of the Spirit.
So, ok, I put those things on by faith but I'm not sure we really get it. This is not just some little prayer ritual ditty that we confess over ourselves. If I put on the helmet of salvation it speaks more to having comprehended that I was once hopelessly lost in sin, with no way on my own to get to God. There is nothing I can do to deserve the magnificent pardon that I have received through Jesus and his death and resurrection. That helmet becomes securely on my head when I stop trying by my own efforts to sanctify or clean myself up. When I finally accept what Jesus has done on my behalf, I turn the corner into a life of gratitude. The breast plate guards my heart not by my righteousness but by His. Coming to terms with this moves me to accept the condition of my heart and to allow the Lord into those hidden and secret places, to share it with Jesus honestly and openly. Its not like I can really hide any of it from Him any more than Adam and Eve could hide their nakedness with a fig leaf.
In our verse today however the weapon that David wields is The Name of the LORD. So did He stand there shouting Jehovah Jireh My Provider His Grace Is Sufficient, or was it I AM has it out for you Giant. I don't think that is what happened that day. It was in that moment that David declared to the giant and the listening armies "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty." It is not the rocks or the sling in his hand or by speaking the right words. It is the confidence in knowing the LORD Almighty.
David had spent years as a shepherd alone with the sheep. Alone with the Lord, singing songs, talking out loud to the LORD, calling on the Lord to help him when the lions or bears made of with one of the flock. He had a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord that had come from having spent time with the Lord on a daily basis. Too often people come to their moment of crisis and begin sending up Hail Mary prayers for Gods deliverance. God is looking for us to walk with Him daily, to be learning the sound of His voice. To make time to come away and fellowship with Him amidst the never ending duties of daily life. Is He my priority, is He first in my heart? It never hurts to go through your Bible and discover all the names by which the LORD is called there are deep riches to be found. It is not so much knowing the names He is called but knowing Him intimately and deeply. Those names are merely a point of introduction to that part of who He is.
When I have seen him deliver me in a financial pinch I know Him as my provider. When I have been consumed with guilt and shame I have come to know Him as the Lord who sanctifies and forgives. When I am confused and I look to Him I begin to know Him as my peace. In whatever we are facing there is a comfort in knowing that He is more than enough.
You may be facing some trial today. The Lord wants to help you - He waits for you to get to the end of your self sufficiency and realize your need for Him. Not just in this moment of crisis but in every step of the journey forward. He waits to share the journey with you.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I want to know you more. Help me to make time to spend with you. Help me to not put on your armor with some whimsical ritual of a prayer. Help me instead to think deeply on the purpose and the provision of those pieces of armor. That they would so become a part of me as you fill me with understanding and insight into what you have done, and who you are. Help me to not only know your name but know you.
So, ok, I put those things on by faith but I'm not sure we really get it. This is not just some little prayer ritual ditty that we confess over ourselves. If I put on the helmet of salvation it speaks more to having comprehended that I was once hopelessly lost in sin, with no way on my own to get to God. There is nothing I can do to deserve the magnificent pardon that I have received through Jesus and his death and resurrection. That helmet becomes securely on my head when I stop trying by my own efforts to sanctify or clean myself up. When I finally accept what Jesus has done on my behalf, I turn the corner into a life of gratitude. The breast plate guards my heart not by my righteousness but by His. Coming to terms with this moves me to accept the condition of my heart and to allow the Lord into those hidden and secret places, to share it with Jesus honestly and openly. Its not like I can really hide any of it from Him any more than Adam and Eve could hide their nakedness with a fig leaf.
In our verse today however the weapon that David wields is The Name of the LORD. So did He stand there shouting Jehovah Jireh My Provider His Grace Is Sufficient, or was it I AM has it out for you Giant. I don't think that is what happened that day. It was in that moment that David declared to the giant and the listening armies "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty." It is not the rocks or the sling in his hand or by speaking the right words. It is the confidence in knowing the LORD Almighty.
David had spent years as a shepherd alone with the sheep. Alone with the Lord, singing songs, talking out loud to the LORD, calling on the Lord to help him when the lions or bears made of with one of the flock. He had a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord that had come from having spent time with the Lord on a daily basis. Too often people come to their moment of crisis and begin sending up Hail Mary prayers for Gods deliverance. God is looking for us to walk with Him daily, to be learning the sound of His voice. To make time to come away and fellowship with Him amidst the never ending duties of daily life. Is He my priority, is He first in my heart? It never hurts to go through your Bible and discover all the names by which the LORD is called there are deep riches to be found. It is not so much knowing the names He is called but knowing Him intimately and deeply. Those names are merely a point of introduction to that part of who He is.
When I have seen him deliver me in a financial pinch I know Him as my provider. When I have been consumed with guilt and shame I have come to know Him as the Lord who sanctifies and forgives. When I am confused and I look to Him I begin to know Him as my peace. In whatever we are facing there is a comfort in knowing that He is more than enough.
You may be facing some trial today. The Lord wants to help you - He waits for you to get to the end of your self sufficiency and realize your need for Him. Not just in this moment of crisis but in every step of the journey forward. He waits to share the journey with you.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I want to know you more. Help me to make time to spend with you. Help me to not put on your armor with some whimsical ritual of a prayer. Help me instead to think deeply on the purpose and the provision of those pieces of armor. That they would so become a part of me as you fill me with understanding and insight into what you have done, and who you are. Help me to not only know your name but know you.
I try to use Ephesian 6. But sometimes I have a hard time using it and keeping in my heart. At work I have the most hardest time keeping my words pure.
ReplyDeleteBut, your right Margot. Some people just place Ephesian 6, and walk thinking it will be OK. But, you have to work at it. If you are going to place the helmet of salvation you really have to use it. If your going to use the breast plate of righteousness, then you have to keep yourself righteous. If you are going to use the shield of faith, then you have to have the faith that the shield will work for you. If you are going to place the belt truth on, then you have to keep telling the truth even if it hurts someone or yourself. If you are going to ware the gospel shoe of peace, again you have to ware it well. If you are going to use the sword of the Spirit. You must hold it right. What I am saying is, we all have to really place Ephesians 6 in our hearts and use it everyday with faith that it IS GOING TO WORK.
Hey thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeletePhilippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
It is in knowing and spending time with Jesus that we are changed. He accepts us where we are by His grace and sees our destiny and helps us to will and to act according to his good purpose.