Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 17:45 (New Living Translation)

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

This is part of the (hi)story of David versus Goliath (called “the Philistine” in this sentence.) Let’s see, Goliath brings a sword while David brings the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

We all know the result and the victor.

This was a miracle. A teenager against a much larger, much stronger, much more experienced warrior. We all know who should have won this fight. This wasn’t a movie—it was real. God sent David and God enabled David.

Still, the name of God opposed the sword of a man. Couldn’t God have simply taught Goliath a lesson and forgiven him for his mistakes and let him live? Sure, of course God could have done those things. Why not? I don’t know. It wasn’t the right outcome for that place and time.

Does this mean that when a stranger points a gun at me I say, “You come with a gun. I come with the name of God.” and it all turns out okay? Those planes that crashed into buildings on 9/11, were there any Christians on the planes and in the buildings who brought the name of God with them? I believe there were, but it didn’t turn out like David and Goliath.

I suppose there are times and places of God’s choosing where things like David and Goliath occur for all to see. I suppose there are other times and places with other outcomes. It is not my choosing to determine the outcomes. It is my place to call on the name of God and trust in the outcome. Sigh. Thank you God for allowing me to call on Your Name.