Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Apr 30 2019 - 1 Samuel 17:38-18:16 – David the conquering hero

The story of how David defeated Goliath is well known. David refused the weapons and armour offered him by Saul because they were unfamiliar to him and served only to weigh him down. He went out to meet Goliath armed only with his staff, his sling and a few pebbles picked up from a stream bed.

Goliath took one look at David and roared, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" (1 Samuel 18:43). But David shouted back, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands" (18:45-47).

As the giant moved towards him, David ran forward and hurled a stone at Goliath using his sling. The giant was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground whereupon David quickly killed him with the Philistine's sword. He then removed his head as a trophy to be taken back to the king. The Philistine army fled pursued by the Israelite army. Many of the Philistines were slaughtered that day. Israel's soldiers seemed to regain their courage once Goliath was dead.

David was co-opted into Saul's court and into his army. Jonathan, Saul's son, was so deeply moved by David's act of bravery that he entered into a covenant with David and gave him his robe, tunic, sword and belt. It is as if he is already recognising that David has a better right than him to be treated as heir to the king.

So David continued to fight Saul's battles and soon gained a great reputation for himself in Israel. But as the people celebrated how David had even more victories in battle than the king, Saul began to fear David and then even to hate him. He sensed that David will begin to take over his kingdom and so – despite David's faithful service – he tried to kill him by pinning him to the palace wall with his spear.

As we were seeing yesterday, Jesus Christ the Son of God has entered the battlefield on our behalf and has slain the giant that held us captive – he has destroyed sin and death and has put Satan and his army to flight. But that does not mean that there is nothing more for us to do. We also have a battle to fight and a kingdom to gain. David could not go into battle with Saul's armour and neither can we fight the battle of the kingdom with the weapons of this world: "Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Let's be ready to do battle today, putting on the armour of God that will enable us to take our stand against the devil's schemes – weapons before whom no giant can stand. The battle belongs to the Lord.

God of heaven's armies, help me to see clearly those things that oppose Christ, especially when they are my own thoughts and attitudes. May they come crashing down before the power of your word and your Spirit. May the gospel of peace persuade many to flee from you no longer but to come and find life and hope in our Lord Jesus.

Apr 30 2020 - Colossians 1:24-2:5 – Christ in you, the hope of glory

Today we need to pick up the thread where we left it yesterday as we continue to read what Paul has to say to the Christians at Colossae.

God's purpose in Christ is to reconcile to himself all things in heaven and upon earth. And this includes you, says Paul. The Messiah came not just for Jews. This is the wonderful message of the gospel that is now being "proclaimed to every creature under heaven" (Colossians 1:23). You who have come to trust in Jesus Christ have been reconciled to God through his death. God's plan is to present you "holy in his sight and free from accusation" (1:22).

That's a lovely thought, we might reply, but I can't see it happening. There is still so much in my life that is not what it should be. I will never be fit to stand before God. But Paul wants us to understand that God never leaves off a work part done. He gave his Son for us. He was accused in our place so that we might be free of accusation. Nor is Christ finished with us yet. He who died for us is raised for us. By his Spirit we share in his resurrection life; Christ lives in us, and it is Christ in us that is our hope of glory. Left to ourselves we would be without hope, but we are not left to ourselves. He is Immanuel, God with us, Christ in us. He is our life. He is our hope. He will bring us to the place he is preparing for us. "Christ in us, the hope of glory."

To be sure, there is much more work to be done in our lives. Paul knew this. His ministry involved more than simply bringing people to faith in Christ. He wanted to see Christians grow and mature: "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect [complete/finished] in Christ" (1:28). Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith: we begin with him; we go on with him; we end with him. He is our hope, our hope of glory.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great High Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of my guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of Glory and of Grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Saviour and my God!

Christ for us – freed from accusation and condemnation. Christ in us – the hope of glory.

Father God, we readily confess that we have no hope in ourselves; our faith and our hope rest solely in Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us, he now lives to intercede for us in glory and his Spirit is at work within that he might present us to you holy and free from accusation. By the energy of Christ who so powerfully works in us, help us to graciously admonish and teach one another with all wisdom, that we may grow up and become mature in him and that we may make the glorious riches of his grace known to all.

Peter Misselbrook