posted by Writer on May 26
“All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were much afraid.” 1 Samuel 17:24 ESV
Webster defines attrition as the “wearing down by friction, or the state of being worn“. (1) For a clearer understanding, lets revisit that famous battle between David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
Goliath taunted the Israeli army and their weak monarch by hurling insults at them and God, leaving them in a tizzy. His tactics were like those who now occupy space in our great institutions.
Goliath did three things before being confronted by David. First he “stood” and issued his challenge from across the valley (v.8). Next, he moves into the ravine (v. 25) and ultimately “drew near” (v. 41) to the army. (2)
What’s the Point? “If you tolerate a Goliath, he’ll take over your territory.” (3) And that’s exactly what’s happened to us. The enemy, a very powerful and arrogant foe indeed, continually comes at us intending to wear us down. In the process, they have destroyed many of the foundations that made America great (Psalm 11:3). It’s important to note that Goliath kept up this harassment for weeks, just as the enemies of freedom are doing. They never take break and continually chip away.
Why is the opposition succeeding? Like Israel, America turned away from God and its biblical roots. Our land was never meant to be a stronghold for the enemy, but because we have elected the wrong leaders and have become indifferent to the evil that now engulfs us, they’re having a field day while we run for cover (Proverbs 28:1).
When we find ourselves in this state, we tend to fear men more than we do the Lord and are ready to throw in the towel (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Chronicles 32:8).
William Prescott, one of the great soldiers of the Revolutionary period, had a much different mindset than we do; “Our forefathers…spent their blood and treasure, that they might enjoy their liberties, both civil and religious, and transmit them to their posterity. Their children have waded through seas of difficulty, to leave us free and happy…Now if we should give them up, can our children rise up and call us blessed?” (4)
(1) Webster, Noah, An American Dictionary of the English Language, p. 84, 1860; (2) Swindoll, Chuck, David – A Man of Passion and Destiny, p. 42; (3) Ibid; (4) Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David, The Light and The Glory, p. 268.
May 26th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Your commentary instantly brought to mind the words of our beloved 16th President and the words he so notably stated at Gettysburg.
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that this nation under God,, shall have a new birth of freedom (revival)…”
I will change the last words Lincoln spoke: ‘..that the believers that God chose to place in this land will have a new birth and passion to do His will in this land and that our nation will maintain the will to fight for the country He so nobly created for us.”
The words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 need to be heard and felt across this land: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, seek my face, turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.”
May 27th, 2013 at 6:51 am
Thank you, Susan. It’s way past time for the church to take time to humble itself before Almighty God.