“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause” ‭‭(1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭29‬)?

In 1 Samuel 17, Isreal was at battle against the Philistine army. On this occasion, Isreal seemed outnumbered and outmanned because of the army of the Philistines. The two armies were in battle array, but the Philistines had a champion among them. Goliath of Gath was nine feet tall and he wore a bronze helmet and a coat armour weighing one hundred and twenty five pounds. This giant had a spear which was thick and heavy and the blade head of his spear was fifteen pounds of iron. Daily he stood before the Israelite army, boasting about his strength and might. He challenged them to send him a man to fight with him to try to defeat him. If the man was able to kill him, they would become Isreal’s servants. If Goliath prevailed, Isreal would become the servants of the Philistines. Saul led the army of Isreal and he and all of the army were terribly afraid of Goliath and no one agreed to challenge him. 

David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons and his job was to tend to his father’s sheep. He was also sent daily on errands to bring food and water to his three older brothers who were in the army with Saul. The eldest was Eliad, then Abinadab and third was Shammah. For forty days the stand off between Isreal and the Philistines continued and morning and evening Goliath put out his challenge. No one was brave enough to challenge him, not even Saul and the Israelite army cowered in fear. Like any other day, David went to take supplies for his brothers. He left the supplies with the supply keeper and ran to the army to meet his brothers and he arrived just as Goliath stepped forward to make his daily challenge. The men of Isreal ran as Goliath stepped forward and the men surrounding David explained what Saul promised to do for the man who could take down Goliath. He would him given riches, the King’s daughter for marriage and his family would live freely in Isreal. David’s interest was peaked and he continued to ask more questions. His eldest brother Elias became angry when he heard David speaking to the soldiers. 

“What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle”” ‭‭(1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬)! David’s response to his brother was, ‘what have I don’t wrong and am I not allowed to ask a question?’ David carried on talking to the soldiers, because by this time something was ignited in David, that not even his brother’s insult could quench. He echoed a reassuring statement which was reported to Saul. “Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine”” ‭‭(I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭32‬). Saul was certain that David could not defeat Goliath because he was only a young boy and Goliath was a man of war. David boasted himself in the Lord and told Saul how God had shown himself strong in him. His words were enough to convince Saul to send him forward and David defied Goliath and his strength and brought him down in the name of the Lord. 

David understood the cause of righteousness and the defiance of the army of God by the Philistine, was a challenge against God. His challenge to Goliath was that he had defied God by defying his army and his people. He used the name of the Lord and went in his strength to take down the giant. There are many causes in our communities, countries and the world we live in. Many systems, structures, powers and principalities have defied the people of God. There is a cause of righteousness which we have been called to advance in this land. The giants of crime, violence, discrimination, deprivation and immorality are rampant in many of our cities. Many believers sit on the sidelines and complain about the state of our communities and countries. We have the name of the Lord, the strength of the most high and his word to arise in boldness and defy the darkness. We must arise and take our rightful seats of authority and stand in the jurisdictional authority, that has been given to us over every region where we live and work. The church has been called to advance the kingdom, transform the world and spread the light of God to every dark place. 

“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬).

A.P.-Y. Anneta Pinto-Young

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Published by Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

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