DATE:Wednesday, August 16, 2023
TOPIC:THE ARM OF FLESH CAN'T SAVE
MEMORISE
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David (1 Samuel 17:50).
READ:
1 Samuel 17:43-51
[43]. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
[44]. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
[45]. Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
[46]. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
[47]. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
[48]. So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
[49]. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
[50]. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.
[51]. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
EXPOSITION
What David did may seem as a little thing in our sight, but he had done a great thing in the sight of God. Also, we may think he had done a great thing, but what he did was the mind of God. David believed in the power of God stemming from the Spirit of God while Goliath rested on the arm of flesh. Our text for today shows the result-reliance on God paid David while Goliath didn't live to lick the sore of his foolishness in disdaining YAHWEH, alive. The same can be said of the Israelites, including King Saul, their leader, who went to face Goliath. They rested on the arm of flesh. They thought their chariots, javelins, swords and shields would save them, only to discover that, the giant Goliath was far beyond their match. No wonder, even the 'tallest' Saul went into hiding with his bunch of demoralised men, until God proved Himself through the least-expected David.
Today, are we different? Relying on our knowledge, ranks, skills, etc. will fail us. What God wants from us is to have His mind and be in the right relationship with Him. If we depend on Him and surrender all to Him as David did, we will always be victorious over our challenges. Don't trust in yourself or in any situation (Jer. 17:5); put your trust in God Who alone comes through for His people, always.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 825
1. Christ, our mighty Captain, leads against the foe
We will never falter, when he bids us go;
Tho' His righteous purpose we may never know,
Yet we'll follow all the way.
Chorus:
Forward! Forward! 'tis the
Lords command,
Forward! forward to the
promise land;
Forward! Forward! Let the
chorus ring
We are sure to win with Christ
our king.
2. Satan's fearful onslaughts cannot make us yield
While we trust in Christ, our
Buckler and our shield
Pressing ever on the spirit's sword we wield,
And we follow all the way.
3. Let our glorious banner ever be unfurled
From its mighty stronghold evil shall be hurled;
Christ, our mighty Captain, over comes the world,
And we follow all the way.
4. Fierce the battle rages, but 'twill not be long,
Then triumphant shall we join the blessed throng,
Joyfully uniting in the victor's song
If we follow all the way.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, help me never to trust in the arm of flesh in any situation.
2. Lord, I trust You to come through for me even in seemingly hopeless situations, in Jesus' mighty name.
3. Lord, help us to have Your mind in our churches, to prove to the world that You are the Omnipotent God.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 41-44
AUTHOR.
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
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