Comment By Torchlight

"Let no man's heart fail"

The situation was desperate. Humanly speaking defeat was inevitable. The men of Israel cringed for 40 days as the challenge floated across the valley, "Give me a man, that we may fight together" (1 Sam. 17:10). No man stirred. King Saul's despairing attempt to encourage his men of war to champion Israel's cause fell on deaf ears. He was demanding the impossible, for deeds of valour of that kind are not induced by the prospect of riches and honour.

The simple courage of the youthful shepherd from Bethlehem stands for all time in the inspired record. A shining example of discerning faith. His assessment of the situation took into account what others failed to see. Saul and his men looked at the giant and measured him by their own stature and they might well quail. "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" enquired David. Goliath looked with disdain upon "the armies of Israel" but in David's eyes these were "the armies of the living God". And that made all the difference! David had the vision of God.

"Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine", said David to king Saul. No mock heroics here. Faith is not the bravado of fools. It springs from secret dealings with God. The confidence of David was founded in his experiences with his God in solitude. And he attributed his victory, not to his own skill, but to the God of Israel whose armies Goliath had defied: "the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hand". Let us apply the lesson.

We, too, are faced with a mighty adversary. When we measure ourselves against him the chill of fear enters our hearts. Unless we have the vision of the living God who is on our side we shall cower in defeat as did the armies of Israel in the vale of Elah.

On this page in past months we have referred to the mounting challenge in modern society to God and to His Christ. This is evident in so many ways. In the godlessness, the violence and the blasphemy which vaunt themselves around us. In the blatant denial of God's word and of the fundamentals of the Faith by prominent leaders in Christendom. In the pernicious cults which are busily engaged in trapping unwary souls with satanic error. Yes, and even in the opposition of some of our fellow-believers who are prepared to compromise truth for a counterfeit unity

It would be folly to underestimate our adversary, and greater folly to meet him in our own strength. Our need today is to measure him beside the living God in whom we trust. This is what enabled David to cut the giant down to size. He could assess the challenge calmly because he knew that the God of Israel was at his side. This is our situation, too, is it not? Will our God fail us? Will he leave us alone in the battle? Perish the thought! God is for us. And, "If God is for us, who is against us?" (Rom. 8:31).

"Let no man's heart fail". This is a word of encouragement we can all take to ourselves today. Courage, brother and sister. If you are cast down, weary of the struggle, look above the conflict to our victorious Leader. Our cause can never fail in His hands. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20).

News Item

"The Israeli Supreme Court last month rejected a lawyer's submission that they should issue a decree proclaiming that Jesus Christ did not receive a fair trial nearly 2,000 years ago."

The evidence of the four Gospel narratives cannot be set aside even by the Supreme Court of Israel. But Israel does not stand in the dock alone to face this grave miscarriage of justice. The praying company of disciples in Jerusalem put it thus: "For of a truth in this city against Thy holy Servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel foreordained to come to pass" (Acts 4:27,28). This foul crime lies at the door of all mankind. Yet the greatest judicial murder in human history was turned by God into the instrument of His favour to guilty men. We can say:

"Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

In my place condemned He stood,

Sealed my pardon with His blood,

Hallelujah! what a Saviour!"

unknown | Aug 1972
Comment By Torchlight