| Giant in the Land |
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| The Philistines are traced all the way back to Genesis 10:14 (descendant of Ham). The builder of the Tower of Babel, Nimrod was also a descendant of Ham. The earth turns out to be a small planet. Those that turn from God and follow other gods by making their own gods or worshiping themselves seem to have a relation. The Philistines are the quintessential army against God’s people. In the Exodus God had Israel take the long route so they wouldn’t have to fight the Philistines so early (along the coast) and whine and turn back. By the time they’ve entered the Promised Land (Josh.13:2) not every part of the land is conquered, because of Israel’s disobedience. The Philistines remain..and they remain a thorn in the side of God’s people. I don’t claim this to be a perfect analogy, but the Philistines maintaining land that God had given to Israel reminds me of parts of our lives’ that we haven’t (in God’s power) conquered yet(only because we haven’t obeyed God). And in that “land” remains a giant like Goliath who mocks God. What do we do about this giant? Run? Let him talk about God and God’s people like that? Or do we get pissed off (yeah I wrote that) at the evil that has infiltrated or remained in the land (our body, the temple made without hands). When will we hate all sin? I hate your sin (that’s easy). When will I hate my sin?We know that David wasn’t perfect, because we read of his sin in the open diary of the Bible. But on the day he faced off with Goliath (I Sam.17)we could see a little glimmer of why God called him (I Sam.13:14) “a man after God’s own heart.” Does God ever see that little glimmer out of you? …out of me? What Goliath in your life needs to be taken down? The same God that helped you with other things can help you with Goliath(“the sin that so easily entangles you”). Try God. He knows your name.---Let's be that holy people God desires. A person after God's own heart! |
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