victory – Be Still…

1 Chronicles 20:1-8 – Battling Giants

Read 1 Chronicles 20:1-8

Reading a chapter like this in the Bible left me wondering, why. Why does the Bible contain so much detail about war? It’s hard to read about war being “normal.” The Chronicler even said, “In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war.” When I think of Spring, I think of budding trees, grass becoming green again, and flowers everywhere.

It’s great to hear how God was with David’s army, bringing one victory after another. But when you think about what war does to a country and all the people involved, it’s a bit heart breaking. We have to remember it’s all part of God’s story.

1 Chronicles 18:1-17 – Victory

Read 1 Chronicles 18:1-17

David can’t lose with God by his side. The military victories continue to add up. For each battle, there are casualties. It’s easy to read passages like this and forget that real people shed their blood for these victories to happen.

Some people avoid reading the Old Testament because of all the wars and killing. God had a purpose in all David’s victories, even if we have a hard time understanding. It’s good for us to remember that not every war ever fought was led by God. When God leads us, who are we to question what tactic he uses?

Luke 22:63-23:55 – Guilty or Not Guilty?

Read Luke 22:63-23:55

Reading about Jesus’ final hours can be an emotional encounter, especially when we put ourselves in the scene. We’ve been walking with Jesus to the cross, and today we arrive. Seeing it dramatized is also a very powerful way to remember. I’ll never forget the car ride home in silence after our family watched Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” when it first came out in theatres.

Sometimes we want to rush ahead to what happens next, but the first disciples didn’t know this was only the beginning of the miracle of all miracles. Let’s stay where we are in this moment, seeing our Savior’s sacrifice of love.

2 Samuel 18:19-33 – To Grieve or Not to Grieve

Read 2 Samuel 18:19-33

Why was Zadok’s son so eager to give King David the news, and then not tell him about his son’s fate? If you’ve ever lost a child or known someone who has, you know the agony of loss. It’s like the order of things, the circle of life, if you will, are all messed up. Who in their right mind would want to deliver that news?

As it turns out, even bold Joab knew the news would be devastating to the king. That’s why he called up an Ethiopian to bring the news to spare any harm of the king’s wrath, to his own men. The outsider did not have the same fear or dread that held Ahimaaz back from revealing Absalom’s death.

1 Samuel 17:32-51 – Goliath Falls

Read 1 Samuel 17:32-51

How desperate was Saul to find a solution to the Goliath problem? We learned a couple readings ago that there was quite a reward being offered to the brave soul who kills Goliath. You can imagine Saul’s great surprise when young David says, “Don’t worry about this Philistine, I’ll go fight him!” Don’t worry? This was the same giant who sent the Israelite army scurrying away in fear!

But David had a plan. He knew he wasn’t a warrior in Saul’s army, but he knew he was a smart protector. I can just about picture David clubbing a lion to death should it try to take one of his precious lambs. God had gifted David to fearlessly use his wit and strength, and today we shall perhaps see why.