David had two advantages over Goliath, the first infinite, the second relative. God armed his servant, Goliath served himself; and David had a mobility in battle denied the giant. In fact, for all the protection armor provided him, it prevented quick moves and instant direction-changes.
The apostles likewise possessed a divinely-given purpose, coupled with a simple organization in the months after Pentecost. They were free to act under the Holy Spirit's tutelage, while the cumbersome bureaucracy built through the centuries shackled the Sanhedrin's response. While the apostles KNEW they couldn't "help speaking about what we have seen and heard," Acts 4:20, the 70 member Sanhedrin debated how to respond: some wanted to kill them outright; others wanted further dialogue with them; still others wanted to WAIT, Acts 5:33-40! That inability to react swiftly and decisively gave the apostles freedom to preach, to heal, to influence and to baptize. And when the leadership finally decided to punish them, and did, Acts 5:41-42, it merely increased apostolic influence in Jerusalem, leading to Acts 6:1ff. The Sanhedrin's vulnerability vis á vis the apostles illustrates Goliath's vis á vis David. In a rage Goliath lumbered forward, likely expecting David to run for cover. THAT'LL BE THE DAY! The boy had descended the hill and crossed the valley to confront, to attack, to destroy his enemy. He instantly loped forward, in a sweat of concentration, looking for a chance to hit Goliath with the stone in his sling. After several passes around the giant, David found it—an opening around the nose and lower forehead. He stopped, stood and watched as the oncoming menace neared, his long spear glinting in the sun, his shouts booming across the plain, his flaming eyes glaring hatred, his mouth covered with spittle forming on his beard. On he came to wreak his revenge. On he came to kill the king. The boy again broke into a trot, heart pumping wildly. His trot became a wind sprint covering the last twenty yards between them. And as he flew across the ground practiced hands pulled the sling aloft and, at ten yards, as Goliath cocked his spear to strike, David twirled his slingshot once, twice, thrice, then...at the behest of the Holy Spirit's "FIRE"...David opened the sling's pocket and hurled the stone like a guided missile. Seconds passed and, as David glided to Goliath's right, he re‑armed to strike again. Without need. For the stone had almost instantly crashed into the target's forehead. Stopped in his tracks, he at first did nothing. Then David heard a pitiful moan as the Philistine wavered, his knees buckled, he dropped his unspent spear, then slowly collapsed, limb by limb by limb, face to the ground, whimpering in a mournful death struggle. David quickly bent at the Philistine's side, whipped the sword from his scabbard and severed his head. Holding the grisly trophy aloft, David waved to his brothers above. They burst into so explosive a whoop that the terrified Philistines didn't even break camp. They panicked and fled across the mountains and down to the seacoast towns. And in pursuit angry Israelite warriors unleashed vengeance to the very gates of Gath and Ekron. End Part VIII
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|