[June 15]
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.
I Samuel 17:47
WHAT lesson can the "New Creation" of the present
time draw from this story of olden time? David, whose
name signifies beloved, in many respects typified The
Christ, Head and body. His experience with Goliath
illustrates well, first of all our Lord's conflict with the
Adversary during the forty days' temptation in the
wilderness. Our Lord's victory over Satan on that
occasion, his loyalty to the Father and the work entrusted
to him, his own self-sacrifice, meant the victory
for all the world of mankind desirous of being in
harmony with God and his arrangements. Did he not
declare to us, "Fear not, I have overcome the world"?
In overcoming Satan, the prince of this world, he was
gaining at the same time a victory over all the hosts
of evil and servants of sin. He stood faithful to God
and to his covenant relationship and responsibility and
hurled at the Adversary the pebble of truth, "It is
written." As Goliath fell before David, so Satan was
vanquished by our Lord, who declared, "I beheld Satan
as lightning fall from heaven," and declared also as a
result of his victory, "All power is given me in heaven
and in earth," and sent forth his disciples in his name
similarly to battle in his strength and to come off conquerors
and to ultimately share with him in his kingdom,
which is to "bless all the families of the earth."
Z'08-233 R4216:4(Hymn App. G)