Don’t be discouraged, Don’t look back … Is there not a Cause?

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text: 1 Samuel 17v23-30

“And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And the people answered him after him this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.” 1 Samuel 17v23-30 (KJV)

We thank God for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His mercies that endureth forever. Is there not a cause? Paul said “For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16v9, AMP). Sometimes, the same applies to us. In the case of David, David’s brother is the one who withstood him. Now, you must remember that this happened before the incident between David and Goliath that many of us are familiar with. Sometimes, we might be on a mission, well-intended, for we notice a cause, but we may be withstood in one form or the other. Jesus was withstood by Peter. Nehemiah was withstood by Sanballat and Tobiah. Peter and John were withstood by the high priests. But the Lord was with them and they were able to make it through and move beyond the opposition. You will make it through as well. There are the souls of people at stake, that’s why we preach the gospel. For the increase of His government and peace, and for the glory of His name, we do what we do. Don’t relent. As David, remember – Is there not a cause? God loves you and He cares. 

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word. We ask You O Lord for boldness to do what You would have us do, regardless of the opposition that might arise. We also ask for discernment to know when the counsel we get is of You or of the devil in Jesus name, amen.