The hand of God in your life

1 Samuel 17:24-37

Can you see the hand of God in your life?  It is there but often is not realized by a person for many years, and some never get it.  Goliath has for forty days been coming out and playing with the minds and fears of the army of Israel, and it has worked.  But this shepherd boy has seen God’s hand in his life often when the lion or the bear have come for his sheep, and he has done battle with them and won!

Often, it is the one in our own family, the older brother in this case that may be a little tired of hearing dad brag on his sheep keeping son, and this is what’s recorded in verses 28-30.  “Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.”  The older brother spoke out of anger, but it was generated by fear. 

What brought on these harsh words from Eliab, it helps if we read verses 24-27.  “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.” And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”  Eliab has been listening to Goliath for 40 days, and there is no way he is going to fight the giant.  Little brother seems fearless about this massive Philistine, and you have to enjoy David’s reply to his brother’s fear, and after asking what he had done, turns his back on his brother’s fear and begins talking with someone else.

Samuel had already anointed David to be the next King of Israel, and he had been called into service to play for King Saul when the evil spirit attacked, but he was still a shepherd boy going back and forth to care for his dad’s sheep.  Can you see how God is moving things along; Goliath is going to make David famous and when King Saul hears there is a man in Israel who has no fear of Goliath he asks for him to step-up.  This is the conversation between King Saul and David; “And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

Now with history and the Scriptures it is easy to see how the hand of God moved in the life of David, but what about your past, have you paused to see how the hand of God is moving in your life?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice