Wednesday Week 2 Year 2

Some of us sometimes end up needing to learn things the hard way. This is especially because we feel that we are right, our pride and ego have gotten over us, and we think that we can grow and prosper on our own, even to the extent of thinking that we are self-made or more than capable of handling things without the need for God. When things don't go our way, or when we face problems and danger, then what happens? Some of us end up swallowing our pride and go back to God for help, while some would still stubbornly try to do things their way and end up in a worse situation.

In today's reading, we see how the Israelites ended up learning things the hard way, since Saul had failed the Israelites as a king. The Israelites thought that they did not need God's help and depended on Saul to bring them fame, glory and riches. But what did Saul ended up doing? Saul was leading the Israelites to imminent defeat to the Philistines, since he initially coud not find anyone who was willing to duel with Goliath, the champion of the Philistines. But God did not abandon the Israelites to their doom. God inspired and helped David to come forth and fight Goliath. When Goliath cursed David by his gods, David answered the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have dared to insult. Today the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I shall kill you; I will cut off your head, and this very day I will give your dead body and the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord gives the victory, for the Lord is lord of the battle and he will deliver you into our power."

Notice that David had said that God would give the victory. This shows that ultimately, it is God who is King. A human king like Saul failed the Israelites and brought them to the brink of destruction, but God as the eternal king brings peace, prosperity and victory. May we be wise enough to know which king to choose and depend on.