more from Nehemiah

When I told Nat yesterday that I really like the book of Nehemiah she was surprised!  But it's true, I really do.  Today's readings take place from 3:15-5:13.  In this section the work of Nehemiah with the people to rebuild the wall is mocked severely.  They were teased and mocked because the task was so big, and overwhelming.  "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!"  they said.  I mention this only because it frames the enormity of the task.  Obviously it is a pretty huge undertaking, enough so that it gives them something to mock and tease about.  This helps make the point of verse 6 all the sweeter.  "At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm."  I love that.  Isn't it true in general that when you work with enthusiasm and don't get side tracked by the detractors of  whatever the task at hand may be much can be accomplished!  Attitude is everything.  (well at least it's a ton!) 

And when progress is continued and successful the threats increase in number and severity.  But that doesn't stop the progress either.  I love verse 9.  It may well be one of the most educational verses I have come across in all of scripture.  "But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves"   It is such a perfect picture of the partnership between prayer and action.  God uses His people.  Pray AND Do.  I think Nehemiah's trust in God to protect them is not in any way diminished by the plan of action he sets in place. That is how I have seen God work in my life.  Pray and an idea comes.  Pray and a plan of action materializes.  Pray and regain your strength.  Of course God can work in miraculous ways too, and often we see the picture of that in scripture.  I find this section of Nehemiah to be a much closer representation of how God utilizes prayer in my life.

January 20, 2012

Today's readings included the first couple chapters of Nehemiah.  Over the years I have grown to really love and appreciate this book.  I love the picture of answered prayer and team work that is portrayed.  For example in today's reading there is Nehemiah's fervent prayer to God to be able to go home and repair the city walls.  This prayer takes place in Autumn and in the Spring Nehemiah receives a favorable response. It's fun to see the clear answer to prayer and more enjoyable yet when it comes out the way you hope!  Not that the task at hand would be easy, but still the gracious hand of God in the events is so clearly evident.  I also think it is a good reminder that God's timing is always best even though waiting is rarely something we are fond of doing.  Then when Nehemiah gets home, the team work that is evident by family groups each working on a section of the wall.  What an awesome picture of leadership and teamwork.  As a whole the task would be somewhat overwhelming, but divided into sections and among many people a lot of work is accomplished in what appears to be pretty short order!

The Lord Cares about our bodies

I prefer to think about "thou shall not murder"  I'm good at that one.  I've never murdered anyone!  Thou shall not commit adultery... Yeah, let's think about that one, never done that either!  Thou shall not covet... maybe a struggle or two in this department but I do pretty good in the department of contentment.  I'm over blessed so this one is pretty easy too.  I'd be pretty comfortable talking about this one and feeling pretty stinking good about myself. 

But nothing in today's readings bring up any of the stuff I'm good at.... Nope, it addresses bodies.  While in the context of the readings it is talking about sexual purity (and I'd love to just keep it there, because once again, doing great in that area!)  the lesson extends way beyond that.  Here are some examples in the text that make it clear that it goes beyond sexual purity:

"and the Lord cares about our bodies."  (vs 13)
"Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ?" (vs 15)
"You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.  So you must honor God with your body"

I stink at this...  I think of my body as my own well padded under watered, undernourished but over fed body as MY business.  But I am wrong about this.  My body doesn't really belong to me... it belongs to Christ.  And I don't take care of it very well.  I skip breakfast and other meals and then justify sugary snacks to tide me over til I'm around real food.  I've passed on exercise so long that I'm not sure where my muscles even are.  I use excuses to not do what I should be doing to care for this treasure that God has entrusted to my care while I am here on earth and it is a sin I struggle with every day. 

I'm thankful for the forgiveness of Christ for this and every sin in my life, and I count on Him to help me keep today's important truths in mind.    I have not been being a good steward of a precious gift entrusted to my care.... this is not typical of me when other things are entrusted to my care, why do I think of my own body as less important?  What am I willing to do different?  hmmmmm.  Good things to ponder in order to make some much needed changes....

hmmm

 I wonder..... how much time elapses between when David wrote Psalm 28:1-5 and when he writes vs 6-9.....

Proverbs 20:24 "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"   (good question.... but I sure do question everything along the way.  I'll have to work on that!)

a few thoughts

I underlined some things from readings a few days ago because I knew I would want to remember them and I didn't have time to blog.  From Romans 15:13 " I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him."

 I actually wrote this down on a 3 X 5 card to memorize.  There is so much here for me.  Sometimes the truth is that God is not my source of hope.  I look for it in circumstances and get frustrated when my life doesn't look like I thought it would.  I long to remember that I need to find my source of hope in Christ.  I recently did a children's message that talked about JOY being "Jesus Owns You"  That because we are owned by Christ we have Joy, He takes care of his people.  I reminded the kids that joy is different than happiness because happiness is dependent on circumstances, but Joy is rooted in Jesus.  But I realize I constantly need that reminder myself.  I don't rest in Christ, I wrestle with Christ.  It's not where I want to be in my faith.  I recognize that God uses all of this to draw me closer to him and for this I am thankful. 

The "because you trust in Him" part is key.  I continue to place my trust in Jesus, but clearly I take it back again.  The evidence is in my worry and stress.  If I were truly trusting in Him as I want to be, I don't think I'd be so distressed over Derek, and other issues.  It's a process and I am thankful that God is faithful even when I am not as faithful as I should or wish to be. 

Another verse I underlined was from Psalm 25:4  "Show me the right path, O Lord, point out the road for me to follow."  This is such a perfect prayer for Den and I both right now as we try to figure out what the next step in this journey of parenting an adult kid that is not reaching his potential ought to be. 

Psalm 25:8  "The Lord is good and does what is right he shows the proper path to those who go astray."  This is an encouragement for me as a mom because once again God reminds me that He is showing Derek the way he should go, that He won't give up on him.  I certainly continue to pray that Derek will choose the path that the Lord shows him.

2 Chronicles 32:8b "We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!"  Once again, just an encouragement that God is on our side!

Psalm 25:17  "my problems go from bad to worse, Oh, save me from them all!"    (I could just relate to this...)

Closing in on year end

So I should probably rename the blog Genesis to 2nd Chronicles and mid Romans....  Or 1/2 way through in 2011 or something else...  No profound thoughts from today's readings.  Actually I had something from the previous days reading, but since that was a couple of days ago, and I didn't add it as I was thinking about it, I can't recall what it was....  guess that means it wasn't that interesting or profound!

Follow up on last post

So, after further study, thought and prayer I came to the conclusion that I broke the Cardinal rule when it comes to scripture.... Context.  I believe that I took the verse from Romans (11:36) out of context.  Paul was speaking in this section about salvation for the Jews and the Gentiles and how God accomplished this for both of them, it was all God...  that's the context for the verse.  He wasn't speaking about evil, or bad or anything like that he was speaking about salvation, and indeed that is All God!  "To Him be the glory for ever. Amen!" indeed.   Note to self.... context, context, context!

Sovereignty

This subject has been a hot topic for me lately.  What does it mean exactly.  I have a friend that thinks that God is behind everything.  Not just that he uses all things, but that ultimately he causes  all things.  I disagree with this thought as explained via the copy of the email I will paste below.  Since the email conversation, I've come across two texts that have challenged my position that were seperate from anything that had come up between Carrie and I.  One I discussed with my pastor and when going back to the orginal Greek, the way one word is translated into English is actually two different words that bring a different flavor to the verse. We talked it through and came to rest on my original position on the subject.  Today included another such verse, so after I copy the email conversation between Carrie and I, I will post today's email question to Pastor.  God is so big and we are so small....  Perhaps this will be a topic that I have to be content to not fully understand. 

Email to Carrie after lunch discussion:

I'm like a dog with a bone when my brain starts contemplating these issues.

 

Sovereignty of God:  Absolute authority and rule of God  (Bible dictionary)

 

From regular dictionary sovereign is "supremacy of authority"  complete independence.

 

From these definitions of Sovereign I still do not extrapolate that He causes....  for example  He has the complete authority to give mankind "free will".  He has the authority and ability to intervene in circumstances , and the authority and ability to allow circumstances to unfold.  But God is Good and what he does is good.  When it comes to sin, he is not capable of it and he does not cause men to sin... In his Sovereignty he allows men to sin and go their own way.  In His Sovereignty He allowed the Wright murders... hard enough to wrap my brain around, but I still maintain it is a far cry from causing it or it being his will.  We pray that God's will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, but the truth is that things are done apart from the will of God every day. 

 

Not trying to pursuade you really, the ongoing dialogue just helps me think my position through. 

 

Thanks for lunch!

 

Blessings!

T.

Carrie responded and then I replied to her response within her email.  My comments are in color.  Carrie did not respond to my response, but since then I have continued to think, pray about and contemplate my position.

Terri,

 

    This topic is so fascinating to explore! For sure! It gets my brain really cranking! There’s this paradox in my mind when I think of how the free will of man intersects the absolute sovereignty of God.  I completely agree that God can never do anything evil.  (James 1:13 –For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.)  Yet what if what we consider to be evil God had planned (not just allowed) for good?  Here I’m thinking about Joseph’s case when he told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  (Genesis 50:20)  The brothers’ actions were evil, yet God not only allowed them, the verse says He intended them, which I see as an act of God’s will on purpose.  It is so interesting how different words strike people differently.  I do not read the word "intended" at all to mean a specific act of God's will on purpose.  For example one person could intend to use a scarf to keep them warm, and another to use the same scarf to compliment their outfit.  The intention has nothing to do with the origin of the scarf.  In the same way the origin of Joseph's situation is also irrelevant to God.  He knew what Joseph's brothers were going to do and he intended to use it in a different way than the brothers did.  I believe that God's will was to use the evil the brothers did for good, not to plan their evil.  I do not understand why God would "plan" evil to bring about good.  If it is that kind of Sovereignty why wouldn't he "plan" good to bring about good?  Not to place emphasis on human reasoning, I know that God's ways are not mine, but in my mind, especially in light of other scripture passages about God's goodness, it doesn't make sense.  I sill maintain that God didn't plan the evil - He knew the evil was going to happen and was still able to bring good from it.  (God works all things together for Good for those that love the Lord...)  to me this Biblical account is proof of this passage. Luther says this about Genesis 50:20 (regarding Joseph)  "God causes good to result from evil, not that He wants evil to be done."Somehow this doesn’t negate the brothers’ responsibility in regard to their choice to sin, but as in the case of salvation where those who believe do so only because God chose them and gave them the gift of saving faith while non-believers are still responsible for their rejection of Christ, there is no way with human logic to reconcile both sides of the equation.  Another example I see of this is in the case of Judas.  In John 17:12, Jesus says that “none has been lost (speaking of the disciples) except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” I think Judas was "doomed to destruction" because of his rejection of Christ.  Yes, Scripture was fulfilled through this act but I think God's inspired word reflects God's foreknowledge of what Judas would do, not what God wanted him to do or planned for him to do.  How do you reconcile the passage that says God would have ALL men to be saved with the idea that He "doomed" Judas to destruction.  Isn't Judas part of "ALL" Again I contend that this is a purposeful choice on God’s part not just to allow Judas to betray Jesus, but to plan that betrayal as the word “doomed” seems to imply a sovereign decree of God.  Again, this does not negate Judas’ responsibility in choosing to sin in this way, which seems like the same contradiction we see in the model of salvation we both agree on.   One commentary says it this way:  "This 'iva' (Greek for 'in order that'), like all the others referring to the Scripture fulfillment concerning the wicked, is not deterministic; it rests on the infallible foreknowledge of God.  God Foresaw all that Judas would become and would do in spite of the grace offered to him."  Knowing what Judas would do, God  used Judas' evil actions to help bring about His plan for salvation.  God can and does bring about good from evil, despite people's bad intentions.  Even when Judas came to betray Jesus, Jesus still reached out to him.  He actually called him friend.  God's grace was still there for Judas to receive, even though God knew Judas would not receive it.  I think that if Judas had repented and decided not to betray Jesus, God would have rejoiced over a sinner who had been lost but was now found.  He then would have still been able to bring about our salvation, but would have simply found another way for Jesus to have been brought to the cross.  But with His Divine foreknowledge of what Judas would do, God chose to use that evil as part of His plan.  In both cases Joseph and Judas God knew the evil that would occur before it happened and was able to use that evil for good.  I struggle with specific examples like Katherine’s murder in the same way as I struggle to understand why God doesn’t just grant saving grace to everyone. He desires all to be saved, and He has the ability to cause everyone to be saved (anyone who is saved was caused to be so by Him), so why not impart that saving faith to everyone? Here I have to trust that God is good, and if somehow His goodness is expressed in a way that glorifies Him but doesn’t make sense to me, I have to leave that in His hands.  I understand why the Arminians choose to assert man’s complete free will in regard to salvation and why the Calvinists support the idea of double predestination.  Both those views are consistent with human logic (either we’re fully responsible for our own salvation/damnation or God elects some for salvation and some for condemnation), but don’t really take the full teaching of the Bible into account.  I think in the end this is one of those questions we’ll just have to keep “chewing on” until God explains it all to us in heaven.  I appreciate the dialogue.

 

    It was great to see you yesterday.  Maybe we could try to schedule a once a month Wed. lunch so we can catch up with each other more regularly. 

 

    Love, Carrie

 

Today's email to my Pastor to keep chewing on this....

 

Dear Rev,

 

Today's reading contained Romans 11:36 which caught my eye because of the sovereignty discussion.  The text as I read it this morning reads: "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.  All glory to him forever! Amen" 

 

ESV says it like this:

 

³⁶For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

 

NIV says it like this:

 

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

 

Wondering about the originial language that is translated as "all" things and "everything" in English they would indicate all inclusive, the good the bad the ugly....  This keeps coming up.....   

 

The thing is as I am reading scripture and if what I read is in support of a thought or helpful for what I'm going through I'm sure it is sent to me straight from God.  I do not want to be ignorant if He is telling me something about himself that is in opposition to how I view Him.  I don't have to like something for it to be true.  I don't have to be comfortable with it for it to be true....  But I don't want to be a person that ignores uncomfortable ideas and puts God in a human box.... He's God and I'm not, I for sure get that.....  If nothing else this whole discussion helps to to see very clearly why there are different teachings on this subject. 

 

My questions sure give you a lot of homework... However, you are the brains of this operation, so  I appreciate your help!!

 

Blessings,

T.

 

December 3

2 Chronicles 12:1  "But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin."

When I read this I thought about how nothing really changes.  Unfortunately this is still common place isn't it.  Count on the Lord when the chips are down, and then never mind about Him when things are going well. 

Dear Jesus guard me against this, and help me to put my trust in you each and every day!

Time flies

Oh geeze, October 18th was my last entry.  I'm not sure what is more difficult, keeping up with the reading, or keeping up with the blog!  Today is December 1st, and clearly I am not going to meet my goal of reading through scripture completely in one year.  Currently I am in 2 Chronicles in the OT, and Romans in the NT Psalm 18, and Proverbs19....  From time to time I have been tempted to skim the passages to get caught up, but then I thought that it really defeats the purpose.  Really to take longer, and allow the Holy Spirit to use His word to stretch my faith and strengthen it makes way more sense than to rush through it for a "TA DA I DID IT".  So my journey will continue, not only into 2012, but after I have completed reading through then to keep reading. I think allowing myself to take more time will help me be better at bloging too.  When I spend the time trying to catch up, then I don't really make the time to contemplate what I read, at least not via the blog. 

Ironic again

I just zipped a note to my Pastor part of which expressed frustration at an ongoing issue in my life that is not getting resolved in my time frame that is for sure.  In that email as a reminder to myself I said: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...Christ, the one who will leave the 99 to go after the one, the One who will bring to completion the good that He began....  Trying to hold on to promises, but it sure is challenging.

Then in today's readings I read the following from Acts 27:25 & 26  So take courage!  For I believe God.  It will be just as he said.  But we will be shipwrecked on an island...  I extrapolate that to my situation as a reminder to take courage, and believe God and that He will do as he has said.  I will not be shipwrecked, but it may get worse before it gets better...  Sort of good news bad news I guess, but the point is to trust in the Lord.

Tardy, oh so tardy

The thing about getting behind for me is that it makes it really hard to get started again because I feel like I have to "Catch up" I am behind on the readings, but even more so the blogging.  I often do the reading when I cannot do the blog, and mark this or that thinking I'll post later, then I don't and then it snowballs because I don't have time to post all I want to...  So I'm just skipping those thoughts with the hope of being able to start fresh again. 

Today is October 17th, but I am reading from July 9th...  see how easy it is to get behind with this project?  Natalie and I have agreed to take a bit longer than the year if needed to complete reading through because she is also behind and it becomes very tempting to just skim it rather than read it in order to catch up.  We decided the point was more to learn and absorb than to get through it in the time frame.  However, 1 Chronicles so far is a bit of a skimmer anyway with all the family lines...

Having just returned from my anniversary trip in celebration of 25 years, today's proverb was a fun read:  "the man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord."  Proverbs 18:22

back from the gathering

I was gone from Sunday until Wednesday night.  I did bring my bible with me, but I did not do the daily readings while I was away.  We were busy from very early until very late every day.  With that said, it was an amazing spiritually energizing experience.  The theme was "The Bridge" and like pretty much everything it spoke to me about Derek.  So much was about God's amazing love for us and relentless pursuit of us.  It affirmed my recent thoughts that seem so clearly spoken to me by God through His word.  The readers digest version:  "I've got this, don't worry".  And so it is my intention to beat back the worry every time it rears it's ugly head and claim the victory of Christ for my son.  Jesus is the bridge that will reconcile Derek with God and I wait in expectation for Derek to hear His voice, quit running from and rather cling to His savior.  In the time being I know that God has not given up on him, that He loves Him desperately and is pursuing him passionately.  There was a song we sang and the chorus had these words:  If God is for us then who can stand against us?  (obvious answer.... NOBODY & NOTHING!)  God's power has certainly lifted many people from lives of  sin and destructive choices.  I am thankful that I am not dealing with addiction etc.  with Derek.  It is still hard to see him wasting his time and potential.  But again, I am excited to see what God has in store for him.  He is such a smart guy and has so much potential.  Seriously, he could do anything he set his mind to.   It's too bad that he's taking the long way around, but it's not too late for him.  I will continue to pray and do whatever I can to lead him in the right direction.  There is nothing more I can do, the rest is up to him, and up to God.

So tomorrow is July first and I'm on June first.... a month behind but still on track. 

June 22

Clearly I loved this scripture before, because it is underlined, but it still resonates with me.  2 Samuel 14:14B  "But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been seperated from him."

June 21

So, the Bible readings continue to be about Derek, or about me with regard to him. I can very much relate to Psalm 119:81-82  "I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.  My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.  When will you comfort me?"

 

Well except for the comfort part, I do sense His comfort the last few days, but for sure I am worn out waiting, and straining to see the promises come true....  Oh well, God's timing, not mine right?

 

June 20

I just finished the daily readings.  (I've been doing good about the "daily" part lately.  Nothing like a crisis with the kid to drive the habit.)  I'm still behind though.  Today's reading was May 27th and clearly we are well into June...   seems like everything has Derek's name on it, or my name with regard to how I relate to him.  Today is no different, here is the verse that jumped off the page at me:  Psalm 119:73  You made me, you created me.  Now give me the sense to follow your commands. 

 

 Moms in touch taught me to pray scripture... what a wonderful verse for that purpose:  Dear Lord, you made Derek, you created him.  Now give him the sense to follow your commands!  Amen.

June 19

The OT reading is the account of David's affair with Bathsheba and his successful plot to kill her husband to cover his transgression...  But we cannot hide our sin from the One that matters and today's OT reading ended with these words:  "But the Lord was displeased with what David had done" 

That's really awful.  I don't think I have spent much time in the past contemplating that sentence, but its tragic really.  And worse I think it is common to pile sin upon sin in the attempt to cover our sin so that we look all fine and good to the world.  So much better to take our lumps as we turn to Christ for forgiveness and the fresh start that He promises.  Clearly David does repent (that's coming up) but what a blessing for me if I can try to remember that sentence and allow the Holy Spirit to stop me from repeating David's mistake.  It is God's opinion of me that matters, not what the world sees or thinks.  I am a screw up and fail to do what pleases God daily.  But it is not my intent and it helps me to ponder the beautiful gift of His grace and mercy.  I am sure it can often be said "But the Lord was displeased with what Terri had (done, said, not done, not said etc.)  But thanks be to God that He is very pleased with what His Son did and with that in mind and with the help of His Holy Spirit (and as pointed out last entry in thankfulness) I will do my best to live my life and to make choices that "please" Him and therefore Honor and Glorify Him.

NT Reading was from John 15 the Vine and the branches.  Its interesting that each time "remaining in" is  spoken it begins with our part "remain in me, and I will remain in you."  I am not a theologian (in fact I cannot even spell it correctly but am thankful that the spell check will fix it before I post this...) but this makes me think of our free will.  You do your part people and I will do mine.  (well I suppose more accurately Jesus already did His part but we lose the benefit of that if we don't do our part of "remaining in")  I think of my son and how concerned I am about the fact that he does not appear to be remaining in...  John 15:4 Says Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."  It is no wonder that I do not see "fruit" in his life right now.    But before I let that cause despair, I am reminded of Romans 11:23 which says "And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again." 

 And to seal the deal of comfort the Psalm reading for today began "Remember your promise to me, it is my only hope.  Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles."  Not just the promise of grafting in again, but also the promise of leaving the 99 and going after the one, and "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" and in the parable of the prodigal son where it says "while he was still a long way off" the party preparations were started. 

We are called to remain in Christ, and we should take that very seriously.  However, I am so thankful that God is able and willing to work in the lives of those that are not "remaining in" Him.  It is my fervent prayer that my son as well as all people that are not taking their faith life seriously would turn back toward Christ and be grafted in again.  I continue to pray that God will soften Derek's heart and bring the good work that was started at his baptism to completion.

June 16

Psalm 119:7 b (NLT)  "I will thank you by living as I should!"  So ironic to read this today after the conversation I had yesterday with Pastor.  The reason God's people should do the right thing is to live out their appreciation for what Christ has already done for us.  We cannot earn our salvation, we can never do enough, or be good enough.  The good news is that we don't need to worry about that because Christ lived the perfect life for us and then went to the cross to pay for all of the sins of humanity.  But it isn't "cheap grace"  good works do not matter for salvation but they most certainly do matter.  Faith without works is dead scripture says, as well as that we must be doers of the word not just hearers only.  So cool that today's Psalm sums it up so nicely.  When someone does a kind deed for us that seems over the top we so often say "how can I ever thank you?"  There is nothing to be more profoundly grateful for than the salvation that Christ won for us and so cool that the way to thank Him for this awesome gift is also spelled out.... May the Holy Spirit in His awesome power enable me to live a life of appreciation by enabling to live as I should!

June 6

From today's reading, Psalm 112:1&7
"How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.   They do not fear bad news:  they confidently trust the Lord to care for them."

Unfortunately life comes with "bad news" days, and times of tremendous challenges.  I love the reminder found in today's readings that we do not need to fear!

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 16 & 17 are a bit confusing as to the order of things.  In chapter 16 Saul sends for David on the recommendation of others to play music for him to soothe his dark moods, but in Chapter 17 is the account of David killing Goliath, and Saul says, who is this boys father and again he is explained as the son of Jesse.  I am guessing the killing of Goliath must have come prior to going to soothe Saul's issues with the evil spirit.  He is explained as a great warrior which would of course be true after the Goliath ordeal.

The account of David and Goliath is such a great example of how God Grants victory in the face of impossible odds.  It anticipates Jesus victory on the cross in the face of all the powers against Him. We are not to place our trust in human endeavors and devices.  The message of the cross is that God chose what is weak to shame the strong, and the "weakness" of God is stronger than human strength.