Just One Story II: Uncircumcised

    Let’s get back to the story of David and Goliath, the one biblical story I believe God would want my congregation to hear and understand for their own spiritual strength. (See 1 Samuel 17.) In my previous post I pointed out that most would consider David’s actions foolish. He was too young, too small, and too inexperienced to understand the danger of his actions. That was not the case, however. David was wise beyond his years. He knew something King Saul and his military leaders did not know. He knew the redemptive history of his people and he knew the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because David knew history he knew God would be faithful to his name and would keep his covenant with his people. According to the biblical account, twice a day for forty days Goliath had come out to challenge the Israelite army to a one-on-one, winner-take-all battle. This challenge was not simply a military challenge, or even a personal challenge. It was a spiritual challenge. He defied the ranks of Israel, God’s covenant people. Goliath’s taunts were as much against God as they were against the Israelite army.

    David knew God would not allow this to continue. He asked, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David knew God always defends his own glory. This was the purpose of all he did for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was also his purpose in the exodus, in the conquest, in the time of the judges, and in this particular event. Old Testament history is littered with examples of those who mocked God or brought shame to his name. Pharaoh defied God and suffered ten plagues and the loss of his army.  Jericho defied God and its walls fell down. The sons of Eli brought shame to God’s name and they both died on the same day. The Philistines had defied God by taking the captured ark of the covenant to the temple of their god, Dagon, and the statue of Dagon fell and the people were struck with tumors until they returned the ark. The list is a long one, but each time God vindicated his name. David knew he would do so with Goliath as well.

    David also knew God would honor his covenant and defend his people. When David referred to Goliath as an “uncircumcised Philistine” he was declaring that no matter how big Goliath was, he was not one of God’s people. He was an outsider who had no right to mock them. On the other hand, no matter how dismayed they were at the time, the Israelite army was among God’s people and under his protection. David’s complete faith in God’s faithfulness to his people gave him confidence to take on their enemy single-handedly. David knew what God would do because he had seen what God had done. God had already defeated the Egyptians, the Amalekites, the Canaanites, and the others living in the land God gave to Israel. God had already defeated the Philistines more than once, and David knew God would defeat not only this “uncircumcised Philistine,” but the entire Philistine army as well. Because he knew this, David could face this giant of a man with confidence, knowing that the sling might be in his hand, but the battle was in the hand of the Lord.

    Paul understood this story and this great truth. He also knew God would defend his name and defend his people. He said, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:30-31) Of course, those whom he predestined, called, justified, and glorified are his elect, his people, and he still defends them from their enemies. The outcome of the battle is decided before it begins. God is still God. We can confidently take on the enemies of God’s people without fear. Of course, our enemy is usually not physical, as in a giant Philistine, but the much more dangerous spiritual enemy of Satan himself. That is why Jesus made it a point to tell his disciples that his people, the church, would not be defeated by their enemies. When Jesus asked his disciples who they believed he was, “Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:15-18)

So, why should we be afraid? May “he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 2:11)”