“A Silent Testimony!!!”
I Samuel 17:50-57
Ordain (Merriam-Webster’s)
Etymology: Middle English ordeinen, from Old French ordener, from Late Latin ordinare, from Latin, to put in order, appoint, from ordin-, ordo order
Date: 14th century
transitive senses
1 : to invest officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
2 a : to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law :
Jeremiah 1:5
5. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Disdain
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English desdeynen, from Middle French desdeignier, from Old French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin disdignare, from Latin dis- + dignare to deign -- more at DEIGN
Date: 14th century
1 : to look on with scorn
2 : to refuse or abstain from because of disdain
3 : to treat as beneath one’s notice or dignity
I Samuel 17:42-44
42. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
However, Goliath did not realize whom he was speaking so harshly against: for it was this same David that wrote such Psalms as:
Psalms 3
1. Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psalms 8
1. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Psalms 18
1. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
30. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
42. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
Psalms 27
1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2. When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that this same Spirit of GOD, which inspired David to write such Psalms, rose up inside of him to rebuttal to Goliath:
I Samuel 17:45-47
45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.
This is where Goliath made his only real mistake! Earlier, he may not have known anything about David aside from what he observed at first sight. However, now he should have understood that he was not fighting against David, but ultimately against GOD! He could have truly been spared the deadly fate that he was about to encounter if he would not have done three things:
(1) He arose
(2) He came
(3) He drew nigh to meet David
For in doing so he prompted David to come against him with the unbridled fury of GOD contained in a single stone! Had he never made a move toward David, there is the slim possibility that David would have never went in his bag to get a stone to use against him! Therefore, whatever you do:
Don’t make me have to go in my bag!!!
David had broken down Goliath, but the ultimate victory and testimony still had not been fulfilled. That is when David went to the fallen body of Goliath, took his sword, and cut off his head! Many of us would not have gone this far! However, what better way is it to be able to testify without opening your mouth? David cut off the head of Goliath but did not stop there! He picked up the head in his hand and carried it around with him so that all the people, friend or foe, could see for themselves that the victory had been given into his hands! The scripture even bears witness by showing us that no word was recorded as spoken by David after this until he was found and brought before Saul. Even then, the conversation had nothing to do with what he had done or even what he had been through, but as to whom his father was! Once GOD allows us to overcome our greatest adversities and challenges of life, as we conquer them, we should never leave those adversaries anymore with their heads on! This is not referring to people in any way, but always remember the words of Paul the Apostle:
Ephesians 6:10-14a
10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore:
The secret to standing, fighting, and winning lies in Philippians 4:13!
Understand who JESUS CHRIST is, what He has done, and how it can be used now!
The starting point: John 3:16 & Romans 10:9
Ephesians 3:20---the power is in us already, but we must have the faith to release it to work on our behalf!
Sickness, disease, depression, worry, anxiety, stress, frustration, addiction, lying, gossip, backbiting, hypocrisy, alcohol, drugs, sexual perversion, and so many other things that we often wrestle with! However, from now on, we need to get to the point of cutting the heads off of these demons and taking that testimony with us wherever we go! We never know when we will need to use one of our testimonies to help someone else along the way! We may be ashamed of what we have done, but we should never be ashamed of what we have victoriously come through! We may be ashamed of where we have gone, but should never be ashamed from where we have been brought! We are always quick to look at someone that has been a victim, but we never stop to celebrate enough about someone who has become a victor! Never be ashamed of your testimony because your victory may end up being the vicissitude of virtue for other victims in that same test! I think it not a coincidence that in many English dictionaries, after all of the listings derived from the word “victim” have been listed that the very next word is “victor”! There may be as many as 20 listings under “victim” but after all of the “victims” have been listed and after all of their transformations, the very next following thing is none other than “victor”! However, that only comes from enduring on through trials, tests, and temptations! It is also very noteworthy to notice that many victors that were former victims need not say anything to those that witnessed them in their victim state from before about their victor state of right now! Their presence says it all for them! David never had to say anything about what he had done for the testimonial trophy he held in his hand said more than enough of everything!!! Just as GOD delivered him on that day, He can also deliver you on today!!!!!!!
