And the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley and to the gates of Ekron.
Big brave soldiers. Right?
Not so fast.
This is God's revelation of a bunch of thumb-sucking wimps. The context is David's facing of Goliath because no one else would dare muster the heart to fight such a towering opponent. All others shrank in fear.
Malcolm Smith notes, They shouted of a victory to which they had contributed nothing except six weeks of cowardice....I Samuel 17.
Oooops!
These fraidy cats did surely experience victory over a tall order by aligning with and positioning in courageous boy David. Victory was theirs! Hope translated into fact through one young lad. The entire nation celebrated as victors....for they were indeed.
So it is with us. Satan comes bellowing threats. We be the cowards. Jesus, the young man who would dare take him on. Identical stage is now set.
Jesus wins. Goliath Satan loses. We arise as victors.
We shout in victory as if we have won because Jesus did and we have. Why? Because we are in Christ. We have been buried with Him in baptism.
He fought the battle. We won.
Our job?
Believe the story.
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