Who hasn’t heard
of the courageous defeat of Goliath at the hand of the young David? For centuries to follow many circumstances
are explained by the euphemism of “that’s a David and Goliath story”. The story includes David’s rejection of
standard military armament and his encounter with Goliath with only a shepherd’s implements and yet he struck him down. David
decapitated the giant and took his armor. It is worthy to note that this “was Israel’s
first victory at the hands of David.”[1]
The inspired author emphasizes the refusal
of the armor by David. Twice he recounts
David’s concern: “for I have not tested them”, along with the affirmation that “the
Lord saves not with sword and spear.” We
are also captivated by the courageous and optimistic “sermon” that David
preached to the giant man in verses 45-47.
The death of Goliath injected courage into
the Israelite army as they pursued the Philistines, defeating them and
plundering their camp. Again the author
seems to emphasize: “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand . . . that
all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that . . . the Lord
saves not with sword and spear.”[2]
“There was no sword in the hand of David.”[3]
The Lord Saves Not With Sword and Spear
MacArthur is right as he comments: “The
tools of the shepherd proved to be appropriate weapons also for Israel’s
shepherd.”[4] Like a better Saul (renamed
Paul) who would serve God’s people once wrote: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not
waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of
the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4, ESV)
Indeed it is the tools of the shepherd, the shepherd’s means of grace whereby
God saves. The Westminster Shorter
Catechism[5]
asks:
Q 88. What are the outward and ordinary
means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby
Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances,
especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to
the elect for salvation.
Matthew Henry reminds
us: “By this it appeared that his confidence was purely
in the power of God, and not in any sufficiency of his own, and that now at
length he who put it into his heart to fight the Philistine put it into his
head with what weapons to do it.[6]
It is very common
within today’s ministries to rely on tools that are tools of the world, not the
shepherd’s tools. As Christian pastors
and evangelical churches it is important to realize that the tools of the
shepherd are those provided by the power of the Spirit: the preached Word, baptism,
the Lord’s Table and prayer. As God said
to the priest Joshua, “Then he said to me, “This is
the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my
Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
(Zechariah 4:6, ESV)
Let us affirm with
Paul, “Our sufficiency is from God.”[7] It is not
in the clever programming plans and marketing schemes of the modern
church. We trust in the power of God
through His ordinary means of grace: the preached Word, the Ordinances properly
exercised and prayer.
[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R.,
Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study
Bible (1 Sa 17:1–58). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 17:46–47). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[3] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Sa 17:50). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[4] MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study
Bible (electronic ed., p. 404). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
[6] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s
commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume
(p. 414). Peabody: Hendrickson.
[7] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 3:5). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
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