OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY - 21/1/2014 - A LESSON FROM GOLIATH BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

A LESSON FROM GOLIATH

MEMORISE

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 6:10-11

READ

1 Samuel 17:41-43

1 Samuel 17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

1 Samuel 17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

1 Samuel 17:43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

MESSAGE

At the first sight of David, Goliath despised him. He was amazed that the children of Israel could find no man to fight him but a young boy. As if that was not enough, Goliath did not see any conventional weapon of war on David. So he asked, “Am I a dog?” The first lesson we have to learn from this story as Christians is that we must never underestimate our enemies. A small snake can be full of potent poison. In Joshua 7:2-6, the Bible tells us that after the fall of Jericho, Joshua relaxed, thinking that since they were victorious over Jericho, a small town like Ai would pose no problems. He underestimated the enemy and lost thirty-six men. Any overconfident person will fall; so, be careful that you don’t fall. It was overconfidence that destroyed Samson according to Judges 16:6-21. Delilah asked him outright about the secret of his strength and how he could be bound and tormented. The intent was clear enough for him to take caution, but Samson underestimated the power of a woman and he fell. You better not underestimate your enemy. The Bible says that we should beware of little foxes in Song of Solomon 2:15. These are things that we think are not very important or too bad. For example, a little exposure of your nakedness can make you a victim of rape as a woman. Also, a brief glance at pornographic pictures on the internet can weaken your power of resistance against illicit sex and you could become a victim of sexual perversion. A little indulgence in idleness and pleasure seeking could make you poor perpetually according to today’s memory verse.

Goliath came to the battle with swords, bow and arrow while David came in the Name of the Lord of Hosts. One said he would do it on his own while the other said the Lord would do it for him. Another lesson we must learn from Goliath is pride which I describe as a dangerous relative of overconfidence. Overconfidence leads to pride. When you are too confident of yourself, you will feel you do not need God. God says in Proverbs 6:16-17:

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”

Goliath never thought David could come near him, not to talk of defeating him. Many of us boast that nothing can stop us from getting to Heaven. We relax and become overconfident, forgetting the warning of 1 Corinthians 10:12. If you do not remember that your standing in the faith is not by your ability, then you are in danger. I pray that God will not resist you.

PRAYER POINT

Father, help me not to fall prey to the spirit of pride, overconfidence and careless living.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

1 Thessalonians 5 

2 Thessalonians 3

Psalm 20