1 Samuel 17:25-27
"And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him."
Is David hard of hearing in this passage? After being told what will be done to the champion who defeats Goliath, he asks, "What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel?" At first it might seem he didn't get it the first time or perhaps was greedy of the prize and just wanted it to tickle his ears again. However the next sentence the young shepherd utters reveals his true heart,
"for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
It is almost as if David cannot believe that anyone would need or could possibly want a prize above and beyond removing the reproach from God and His people.
What is my attitude to doing what is right? Am I looking for the prize? Or is it its own reward? Are the smiles of my Heavenly Father enough?
No comments:
Post a Comment