Goliath’s Sword.

Have you ever wanted to just come aside from everything and just take an undisturbed break for a few days? Get away from the troubles and worries of life? And just take time to breath, process your thoughts, knowing that no one will disturb you for a while? It’s something we all need to do at some point in our lives.

Some of us will need to do it several times in our life as we grow older and more experienced. We spend years on a career or relationship and we never take the time to take stock, look around, and re-assess our positions. And it’s something we should all be doing, whether it is in a career, a course of study or a long term relationship. We need to stop, rest, look back and then plan forward.

David found himself in this position at one time having to get away and hide from King Saul. He ran to a city in the north and asked the local priest for some help in the way of provisions. The priest gave him some bread and told David that there was a sword being stored at the back of the sanctuary, in behind the priest’s garments.

He took the bread and went to the back of the sanctuary. I’m sure his eyes must have lit up in surprise when he heard of the weapon that was wrapped up there – The Sword Of Goliath!!!

1st Samuel ch21v8 David asked Ahimelek [the priest], "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's mission was urgent." v9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one." David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."

David then fled from there and eventually ended up at the Caves at Adullam. There, David was able to relax, take time to breath and process all that had happened between him and Saul and together his thoughts together again.

It happens sometimes in our lives that, when the storms and worries of life are swirling around and about us, that we need to stop, rest and take stock. And it is also God’s way that when we are in this position that God brings our old skills back into our life. Had we, at one time, a desire to preach? Or sing? Or did we play an instrument? There’d be nothing wrong in doing that again in our later years.

In my later years now that I am enjoying retirement, all my old academic qualifications are totally redundant for me. They are of no use whatsoever. And so I take delight in the fact that God has found some unknown talent in me, wrapped up in a christian garment, and brought to fruit in the form of these essays. These essays are my “Goliath’s Sword”. All the bible courses that I attended, the books that I read, the seminars that I took part in are all coming to the fore now as these essays all start to come together. And I am so thankful to God for it.

Goliath’s sword is never mentioned again in scripture. But David was to go on and take his place as king over Israel as prophesied. But I’m sure he would have kept the sword somewhere to remind him of a ferocious fight he had with a giant many, many years before.

God plants seeds of learning and opportunity in us all. But sometimes those seeds are planted very deep under the soil. And they take a long time to come to sprout and bloom. We all have an opportunity to bring out our talents and share God’s love, His grace and His mercy to others. Every single one of us has a story to tell. We have all just got different ways to tell it. And God will give us the opportunity in due time.

Proverbs 19v21 Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Psalm 27v14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Amen.

Therefore they shall come and sing in the heights of Zion.
And they shall flow together for the goodness of The Lord.
For wheat. For wine. For oil. For the young of the flock and of the herd.
And as a watered garden shall their souls be.
And they shall not sorrow any more at all.

Paraphrased from Jeremiah 31v12 

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