IS THERE NOT A CAUSE
When my son was in 7th Grade, 12 years old attending
Fillmore Middle School, he was assigned Mr. Bailey as his home room teacher who
was particularly tall and imposing; a previous college basketball player. Like many kids, my son found class work
difficult. I happened to be the Sunday
school teacher for him and 11 other kids of that age group in my Ward. I prepared a great lesson about the Old
Testament story of David and Goliath to metaphorically emphasize our ability to
overcome obstacles, or giants, in our lives as we stay focused on our cause. At the end of the lesson, when I asked the
class to name some of the giants in their lives, my son spoke up and said, “Mr.
Bailey.” It was then that I realized my
great lesson had gone right over his head.
The story of David and Goliath is fascinating and teaches
many valuable lessons. King Saul was
commanded by the Lord to utterly destroy Amalek. He was commanded to slay everything including
men, women, infants, ox, sheep, camel and ass. Saul was not obedient. He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive
along with the best of the sheep, lambs and all that was good. Saul then reported to Samuel the prophet, “I
have performed the commandments of the Lord.” Samuel then asked the famous
question, “What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears and the
lowing of the oxen which I hear?” Saul then provided the classic excuse of
blame: “…the people spared the animals
to offer up as sacrifice.” He later
became more honest: “I feared the people
and obeyed their voice.” (1Sam15:13-21) But still the lesson to be learned is:
“22 … Hath
the Lord as great delight in
burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of
the Lord? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to
hearken than the fat of rams.”
23 For rebellion is as…witchcraft
and stubbornness is as …idolatry” (1Sam15:22-23)
Samuel announced to Saul that the Lord hath rejected him
from being King over Israel. The Lord told
Samuel he had provided a king among the sons of Jesse and sent him to identify
and anoint him. The first of Jesse’s
sons, Eliab, was trotted out. He looked
good to Samuel, but the Lord taught an eternal principle:
“7 But the Lord said
unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not
as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looketh
on the heart.” (1Sam16:7)
After presenting all 7 of his sons, Jesse admitted there
remained the youngest son, David, who was keeping the sheep. Samuel anointed David. The scriptures say David was ruddy with a
beautiful countenance and goodly to look to.
That is as we would say today; he was handsome.
Saul was troubled because of his sins. He recruited David to play the harp for him. Saul developed a short lived love for David,
while David maintained throughout his life his love and respect for Saul. A war began between the Philistines and
Israel.
“3 And the Philistines stood
on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other
side: and there was a valley between them.
4 ¶And
there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath,
of Gath,
whose height was six cubits
and a span.” (1Sam17:3-4)
Goliath was an estimated 9 ½ foot tall (3 meters) giant who
came down to the valley every morning and evening for 40 days and issued a
challenge to the Israelites. Choose a
man; let him fight me to the death. The
army of the looser will become the servant of the army of the winner. Because of his size the Israelites were
greatly afraid. The three oldest sons of
Jesse had jointed the Israelite army.
David was sent by his father with food for his brothers. As David talked to his brothers, Goliath came
down and David heard the challenge.
David asked a simple question, “Who is this uncircumcised
Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” He oldest brother, Eliab, ridiculed him
saying,
28 … Why camest thou down
hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know
thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou
mightest see the battle.” (1Sam17:28-29)
David then asked the great question, “Is there not a cause?” With
unbelievable faith in God that he would prevail, David then told Saul that he
would go fight with this Philistine and related how he had slew a lion and a
bear while protecting the sheep and the Philistine would be as one of
them. Saul approved. The scripture then states:
“40 And he [David] took his
staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put
them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his
sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”
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.
49 And
David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and
slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone
sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
You are serving as a missionary and God is on your
side. Jesus Christ and Angels are on your
right hand and on our left protecting and guiding you. There are as many challenges in the mission
as there are missionaries. The story of David and Goliath relates spiritually to
each of you in your own way with what difficulties and opportunities you are
facing.
Like Saul, do you make excuses or justify disobedience to
mission rules or programs to satisfy your own comfort or habits?
Saul sought relief from guilt and shame of sin with harp
music. We all sin so what do you do for relief?
What is the Lords way of relief?
Like Saul, are you stubborn to your companion, the work or
to the Lord? Stubbornness is as idolatry
and rebellion is as witchcraft.
Stubbornness takes the form of impatient, failure to trust the Lord, and
an exaggerated opinion of your own power and importance.
Do you exercise your ability in your relationships with
others to see beyond the outward appearance and look on the heart including your
companion, other missionaries, members, investigators and people?
David’s victory over a lion and a bear helped prepare him to
face greater challenges such as Goliath.
As you defeat the lions and bears in your life, you will develop the
confidence, character and faith to defeat your Goliaths. Afterwards your enemy will flee.
David trusted the Lord to help him fight Goliath. Do you show such faith in the Lord in your
daily challenges as well as the Goliaths in your life? Do you run forward to attack your Goliath?
Do you not have a cause?
Your mission Vision is clear and that work remains before you. What other personal causes are you engaged in
and do these causes motivate you? Elders
and Sisters your cause is just and you and your team will win.
“But you need not fear if you have the slingshot of truth in
your hands. You have been counseled and
taught and advised. You have the stones
of virtue and honor and integrity to use against these enemies who would like to
conquer you…You can triumph over them by disciplining yourselves to avoid them…Victory
will be yours…you have His power within you to sustain you...You have the right
to ministering angels about you to protect you.
Do not let Goliath frighten you.
Stand your ground and hold your place, and you will be triumphant.”
(President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1983, p.46, 51)
President Robinson
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