The Lion and the Bear

"The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from the Philistine!"  (1 Samuel 17:37)

This year I decided to read through the Bible chronologically, and in April I came across the familiar story of David and Goliath.  It was this particular passage though, that stood out to me.  How does one develop the faith to slay a giant?  How does one express such trust in the Lord that he runs toward a 9 foot giant with just a sling and a stone? (1 Sam. 17:4, 49)  It is because of the Lord's faithfulness with the lion and the bear.

David, whom the Bible tells us was a man after God's own heart, clearly understood  that the lion and the bear where preparation for the giant.(1 Sam. 13:14)  He didn't know it at the time, but through those years of being alone in the pasture protecting sheep and goats, God had developed a trusting relationship with David and taught him how to defeat anything that came against him.  God knew about Goliath long before David and the Israelites did. However,  God wasn't only preparing a giant slayer; He was positioning David for promotion.  Remember, David was already appointed by God and anointed by Samuel to become the next King of Israel, but this young shepherd boy was completely unknown to Saul and his men! (1 Sam. 16:12, 17:55-57) It was after this victory that David was brought to the palace of the King.

The lion and the bear.  No one wants to encounter them, but they are essential for the preparation, positioning, and promotion that comes from the Lord.  This is a truth that can be a hard pill to swallow, but this story has helped me put a spotlight on my own attitude toward trials.  How many times have I gotten angry with God over my giant?  How many times have I thought it wasn't fair because I had already endured the lion and the bear?  How many times was I certain the giant wouldn't come because I'd already dealt with the lion and the bear?  I clearly didn't understand what David knew; that God brings the lion and the bear to teach us to slay the giant ... and much of that "teaching" is learning how to hear from God, obey God, and trust God's plan of action.

As I write this I can recall a very difficult season ... Hannah's diagnosis, my diagnosis of an ovarian cyst, and my mother's diagnosis of breast cancer.  It was a season of desperately trying to trust God and yet questioning why He would allow so many trials at the same time.  Now, looking back, I can clearly see that through my mother's health scare and inability to be there for me as she had always been before, I learned to go to God.  To let Him be my refuge, my comforter, and my counselor.  I definitely see how God used my ovarian cyst to teach me how to listen to Him; how to follow His directions of fasting and prayer to be healed.  I still remember my doctor calling me with the ultrasound report that the cyst was gone.  And the crazy thing was, I already knew it!

Yes, I can see in the past how the lion and the bear have prepared me.  Now it is my prayer to become a woman who trusts God with the lion and the bear WHILE dealing with the lion and the bear ... not just after.  That is true faith. I pray, too, that I am a woman after God's own heart who understands that in all that has come into my life, God is and has been preparing me for my giant.  He has been training me to be a giant slayer.  He is training you too, my friend.  Look back to your lions and bears and see the preparation God has been doing all along.

The Bible tells us that we are more than conquerors through Christ. (Rom. 8:37)  That no weapon formed against us shall prosper because God uses ALL things for our good!  (Is. 54:17, Rom.8:28)  And why does God make such amazing promises to His people?  So that just like David, we can run toward our giant and confidently proclaim,"You come against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies - the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  Today the Lord will conquer you ... and the whole world will know there is a God in Israel!  And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues His people, but not with sword and spear.  This is the Lord's battle, and he will give you to us!" (1 Sam. 17:45-47)  Ironically though, we aren't slinging stones, we are "living stones" built upon the foundation of the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and we stand confident in knowing the same God that had David's back has ours! (1 Peter 2:5, Eph. 2:20) To God be the Glory, forever!  Amen!