”David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26New International Version (NIV)
1 Samuel 17:26 Devotional
What is your motivation for dealing with defiance against God and His people?
1 Samuel 17:26 brings up the question: “What is your motivation for dealing with defiance against God and His people?” And in this verse, David had just heard Goliath defying God’s people. He, therefore, asked the men standing near him about the reward that would be given to the one who would deal with (kill) Goliath.
Now, what is interesting is that David had already heard of the reward for dealing with Goliath (in verse 25). But even after this (second) inquiry, David still made two more inquiries on the same (verses 27 and 30).
Therefore, David asked about the reward a total of four times. And this implies that his ambition cannot be underscored.
David was interested in the reward
Consequently, David’s actions confirm that he was interested in the reward. He was preoccupied with the reward that would be given to the one who would deal with (kill) Goliath. And this is why he repeatedly inquired about the same, ending up inquiring about the reward a total of four times.
So, was David motivated by the reward for killing Goliath? I think so.
Even though he did get mad as evidenced by his question: ‘Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’, his interest in the reward cannot be overlooked. It was an important factor.
Therefore, while David clearly had strong faith, he was very interested in the reward. The reward, which was “great wealth, the king’s daughter in marriage, and exemption of his family from taxes in Israel”, was David’s motivation for killing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:25).
What should be your motivation for dealing with defiance against God and His people?
Consequently, what is your motivation for dealing with that which defies and those who defy God and His people? Is it a sense of belonging or patriotism, like that which David and Moses (Exodus 2:11-15) exhibited in anger? Or could it be just the fear of hell or the desire to make it to heaven?
Moreover, could it be obedience to the Great Commission? (Matthew 28:18-20) Those that defy God and His people enable God to show His power and might. And a very good example is Elijah versus the prophets of Baal, where God manifested His might over the latter (1 Kings 18:20-40).
Nevertheless, God and His people are defied by sin, wickedness, and the proponents of the same (the uncircumcised Philistine). This is why Jesus and his disciples called people to repentance. And in so doing, they could get their target audience to be in the right relationship with God.
There will be a reward
Additionally, there will be a reward for those who will counter those who defy God and His people. David finally became the King of Israel, and God promised him that the Messiah would come through his lineage. And Elijah did not experience death since he was taken up into heaven (2 Kings 2:1-12).
Therefore, you and I are candidates for God’s reward to those who counter the defiers of God and His people. And Jesus told parables about people being rewarded for their faithfulness. One conspicuous example is the Parable of the Talents.
Prayer/Blessing
May you be encouraged that God works through flawed people because we all are flawed.
Daily Bible Reading
Matthew 23-24 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
