Your trust reveals God to be the Hero He truly is

Have you ever witnessed one of those occasions when God’s name gets dragged through the mud? Maybe you were responsible. Join the club. We are all responsible for tarnishing God’s reputation more often than we would like to. The process usually begins with a lack of trust.

Take King Saul for example. Saul trusted in military might more than he trusted in God. But in his campaign against the Philistines, this was his undoing, for the Philistines produced a champion, Goliath. Saul - even though he was the mightiest Israelite, being head and shoulders taller than every other man in the nation - was no match for Goliath. Israel’s military might was not enough. If you elevate anything else above God, it will never be enough. And when God’s people value anything above God, He is not glorified. No, God is belittled.

                So, because Saul did not trust in God, his leadership failed and God was demeaned. For forty days, Saul was paralysed by fear, and he did ... nothing. What a miserable leader. Meanwhile Goliath strutted out every day and hurled abuse at the army of Israel.

                In contrast, David was a true leader. What was it that concerned David about this state of affairs? He asked:

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam. 17:26).

David was concerned about God’s reputation, His glory. Israel’s army represented the power and justice of the living God. Do you think the Philistines believed that the God of Israel was powerful when Goliath marched out to defy His army day after day? This is what concerned David. The fame and renown of his God was falling into disrepute.

So David chose to glorify God by trusting Him and not military might. And because David was concerned about the glory of God, He acted on the basis of trust. Striding confidently onto the battle field, David cried out to Goliath:

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

                David didn’t say “I come against you with a longer sword or a stronger arm”. David knew where success lay. His confidence came from trust in God, and it overflowed in a defiant prophecy which was fulfilled quicker than Goliath would have dreamed possible.

“46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

Exit one giant! Not even John Cleese could claim that Goliath was merely “pining for the fjords”. Goliath was deceased. And may this be a reminder to us that only God is truly enough. If you trust in anything more than God – whether it is money, or success, or a person - you are headed for disappointment, and worse than that, God will be dishonoured in your life. The greatest way to honour God is to trust Him.

Cheers for now -Ian