July 4, 2022 -- I Samuel 21:8-9 -- The LORD's Victories Celebrated

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Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” 9 And the priest said, “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 none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”
I Samuel 21:8-9 ESV

Long before David was King of Israel, he served in the court of King Saul. Saul’s heart was turned against David and there were several times when Saul tried to hunt David down in order to kill him. Our reading today is a brief account, when David and his men visit a priest, in order to get some refreshments as they run from Saul. He left the royal court with such haste he had no sword. He kept his business from the priest so that the priest would not be punished for helping David. (Saul later exacted terrible vengeance against the priest and his whole family for helping David--I Samuel 22:6-23. But that is for another time.)

In the past, when David faced a mighty opponent, the LORD had given David great victory. Every single time. One pertinent example: the giant Goliath taunted King Saul and the Israelite army. They’d forgotten the glorious truth, revealed to all Israel at the Exodus, the LORD is a man of war (Exodus 15:3). Every victory is His. Those who follow Him trust in Him and know they are saved. David, trusting in the LORD, faced the giant in battle, and with merely a sling and a stone, the LORD gave David victory over this heavily armed, and armored man.

Now you understand why David rejoiced to see Goliath’s sword. David was reminded of the great victory the LORD had given him when he faced Goliath. Humanly speaking it was a stacked fight. A huge giant against a teen-ager—no contest, the sword-bearing, armor-wearing, battle-hardened giant should have it hands down, the winner. Spiritually speaking, it was a stacked fight, the LORD of Glory, Who spoke creation into being, can with a word uncreate or tear down. No power, no domination, no enemy can stand against Him. David was reminded, at a critical moment in his life that it is the LORD, He triumphs gloriously., “in the greatness of Your majesty You overthrow Your adversaries” (Exodus 15:7).

All of this points to Jesus’ great victory at the cross. There He disarmed the enemy. There all of Satan’s accusations against Christians lost their power because Christ was punished in the place of His Own. No enemy, no opponent, no matter how powerful, has any traction against a Christian, for the Christian to live is Christ and to die is gain.

What trophies of God’s grace and victory do you see in your life? You might be facing a very hard time right now. Maybe you are rattled in your battle against evil and old sins. What sign of God’s victory do you have near at hand that makes your rejoice? Perhaps you see the certificate of your profession of faith nearby. God drew you to Himself, conquering all doubts, so you boldly declared Him your King. Maybe you see a Cannabis Store, and you are reminded God has given you victory over all your addictions. Maybe today you look at the wedding band on your finger and know, the LORD preserved you, both of you actually, so that you are on solid ground. The LORD will reign forever and ever! Blessed be the Rock of our Salvation.

O LORD,
Bend my hands and cut them off,
for I have often struck thee with a wayward will,
when these fingers should embrace thee by faith.
I am not yet weaned from all created glory,
honour, wisdom, and esteem of others,
for I have a secret motive to eye my name
in all I do.
Let me not only speak the word sin,
but see the thing itself.
Give me to view a discovered sinfulness,
to know that though my sins are crucified they are never wholly mortified.
Hatred, malice, ill-will, vain-glory that hungers for and hunts after
man’s approval and applause,
all are crucified, forgiven, but they rise again in my sinful heart.
O my crucified but never wholly mortified sinfulness!
O my life-long damage and daily shame!
O my indwelling and besetting sins!
O the tormenting slavery of a sinful heart!
Destroy, O God, the dark guest within
whose hidden presence makes my life a hell.
Yet thou hast not left me here without grace;
The cross still stands and meets my needs
in the deepest straits of the soul.
I thank thee that my remembrance of it
is like David’s sight of Goliath’s sword
which preached forth thy deliverance.
The memory of my great sins, my many temptations,
my falls, bring afresh into my mind the remembrance of thy great help,
of thy support from heaven,
of the great grace that saved such a wretch as I am.
There is no treasure so wonderful
as that continuous experience of thy grace toward me
which alone can subdue the risings of sin within:
Give me more of it.
"The Dark Guest" ed: A. Bennett, The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Carlisle, PA: THE BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST, 2020, page 126

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