0116. David, God's Missionary to the Philistines

David, God’s Missionary to the Philistines

"Then said David, * * I come to thee in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

"This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; * * that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (1Sa_17:45-46).

In this wonderful story of David and his sling, and Goliath’s death, there is a keynote that should not escape our thought. God saved Israel that day from the hands of their enemies; God honored David’s great faith; but, God did all of this also, that He might magnify His holy and righteous Name.

Let no one think that God was not willing to save the very ones He overthrew. Had the Philistines repented and turned to the Lord, He would have had mercy upon them. The nations were lost, not because God did not seek their homage, but because they would not hear His voice. God gave them up, because they would not retain Him in their knowledge.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR