RETHINKING FAITH AND GOLIATH

RETHINKING FAITH AND GOLIATH

Thursday, November 30, 2017

   Daniel [MKJV] 3:14-18 [King] Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do you not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, fall down and worship the image which I have made. But if you do not worship, in that moment you shall be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that god who shall deliver you out of my hand? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter. If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.

  One of my and many others favorite Bible story is David versus Goliath. Though not a church or Sunday school family, public school being quite different there and then, I knew it well. We schoolboys even acted out until I bloodily stoned a classmate’s eyebrow with stern lecture and punishment as quick result.

  But how was the Davidic story then taught? How now is it taught? Correctly, limiting or even excluding the core truth of the matter? The gist of the tale being that little us can in faith go up against life’s meany giants and they will fall. Goliath did. But suppose the flung stone had glanced off Goliath’s helmet and he had crushed David? Would it have changed the most important part of the account?

  In relationship to the whole counsel of God, the Word living and written, what is the core truth in the account? Stepping out on faith and generating magnificent results? No, Goliath’s demise and resultant victory is not the central lesson. Looking beyond stone throwing edifies. What I today am writing may go against all that you’ve been taught outside of or in church.

  It is David’s faith, not results, that mattered above all else. (1Sam.13:14; Ps.138:1; Act.13:22)

  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with their clarifying declaration of God is able to deliver if it is His will, He may. But if not we will remain faithful to Him. (Dan.3:1-30)

  The leper’s faith with his “if you will” exemplified this. (Mt.8:1-3)

  The centurion’s faith manifested this. (Mt.8:5-10)

  Hebrews 11 tells us that investment here and now does not necessarily produce expected results. It is regardless faith that matters above all else. (Heb.11:6)

  Living in faith sans overwhelming discouragement requires believing, accepting, applying faith uninfluenced by immediate expectations or lack thereof is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by such faith the people of old received their commendation and so shall we. Without such faith we cannot please, truly worship, God. (Rom.12:1-3; Heb.11:6)

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