A LESSON PROM GOLIATH
Memorize:
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber; a
little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that
travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
Read:
Proverbs
6:10-11, 1 Samuel 17:41-43
Bible
in 1 year:
1
Thessalonians 5 - 2Thessalonians 3, Psalm 20
At the first sight of David, Goliath despised him.
He was amazed that the children of Israel could find no man to fight him but a
young boy. As if that was not enough, Goliath did not see any conventional
weapon of war on David. So he asked, “Am I a dog?” The first lesson we have to
learn from this story as Christians is that we must never underestimate our
enemies. A small snake can be full of potent poison. In Joshua 7:2-6, the Bible
tells us that after the fall of Jericho, Joshua relaxed, thinking that since
they were victorious over Jericho, a small town like Ai would pose no problems.
He underestimated the enemy and lost thirty-six men. Any overconfident person
will fall; so, be careful that you don't fall. It was overconfidence that
destroyed Samson according to Judges 16:6-21. Delilah asked him outright about
the secret of his strength and how he could be bound and tormented. The intent
was clear enough for him to take caution, but Samson underestimated the power
of a woman and he fell. You better not underestimate your enemy. The Bible says
that we should beware of little foxes in Song of Solomon 2:15. These are things
that we think are not very important or too bad. For example, a little exposure
of your nakedness can make you a victim of rape as a woman. Also, a brief
glance at pornographic pictures on the internet can weaken your power of
resistance against illicit sex and you could become a victim of sexual
perversion. A little indulgence in idleness and pleasure seeking could make you
poor perpetually according to today's memory verse.
Goliath came to the battle with swords, bow and
arrow while David came in the Name of the Lord of Hosts. One said he would do
it on his own while the other said the Lord would do it for him. Another lesson
we must learn from Goliath is pride which I describe as a dangerous relative of
overconfidence. Overconfidence leads to pride. When you are too confident of
yourself, you will feel you do not need God. God says in Proverbs 6:16-17:
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven
are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed
innocent blood,”
Goliath never thought David could come near him,
not to talk of defeating him. Many of us boast that nothing can stop us from
getting to Heaven. We relax and become overconfident, forgetting the warning of
1 Corinthians 10:12. If you do not remember that your standing in the faith is
not by your ability, then you are in danger. I pray that God will not resist
you.
Prayer
Point:
Father,
help me not to fall prey to the spirit of pride, overconfidence and
careless living.
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