Who
would not remember the story of David and Goliath? Surely, there wasn’t a time
when your “school life” textbook(s) didn’t include the story. But if you still
want to read it, go and open the Bible and find the story in 1 Samuel 17. Or just click here.
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| image taken from google |
Until
now, I’m still struck by such victory. You know… reigning over a giant and making your God gigantic than anybody else
with just, a sling and a stone. Yes. A SLING. A STONE.
Just
to quote,
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. -1 Samuel 17:50
I find this symbolic in that I know that each
one of us has his own sling and stone yet we aren’t just sure how and when to
use it.
Literally,
sling (could be the modern type: tirador) and stone go hand in hand to hit
something far from you. Well yes, even if it’s near. One of its purposes is to
defend ourselves from harm through this not-so-big-armor yet very effective in
hitting. With this purpose, we may ask… To whom do we want to use it? Can our
enemies be categorized? And just like David, who is our Goliath?
TO WHOM DO WE
WANT TO USE IT?
Conflicts
are inevitable. We are surrounded by thousands and thousands of various
personalities which we ought to deal with. Surely, no one can say they didn’t
develop his enemy at certain point of their lives. Facts would say we all did! And
maybe along the way, we’ll still do. In this world full of anger and
bitterness, we often live in the principle of “eye for an eye and tooth for a
tooth” wherein in all things; we always want to get even with people who have
wronged us taking to account those they did which brought physical, emotional,
mental, and even spiritual damages. It feels good to get even, right? We sometimes
feel like we won! But what did God say in dealing with our enemies?
Matthew 5:38-39 says:
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
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| image taken from google |
What
a shocking truth! Who, in this world would have think of turning his other cheek
after being slapped on the right. Maybe none. Aside from it’s painful, it would
have put our pride deeper than the ground. It’s indeed in our nature to maintain
our pride to its highest level but to be rebuked by His Word would bring us in our
knees asking for forgiveness and learning humility.
Ephesians 4:31-32 says:
31 Get
rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every
form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
We
often misrepresent our sling and stone with violence, hatred, bitterness, and
the like which results to getting even in the most painful way. We thought of
hurting other people to get even would give us just the right satisfaction we
need. What we didn’t know is that we can use our sling and stone to love other
people more. This is by hitting them with the Word of God in their hearts,
making sure the move is done with our fervent prayers. This is our real sling
and stone. It would not always mean pain ALONE.
Proverbs
29:11 says:
11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
MnemoniqueJourney
I
grew up in school being such a bully and yes..an avenger (at its negative
point). I love hurting people who hurt me too. Maybe because this is my way to
stay on top. When I met Jesus in my college years and received Him as my Lord
and Saviour, he let me understand that vengeance in not mine. He said in Romans
12:19:
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Our
sling and stone would make or break us. But we always have the choice to use it
the same way our Lord showed His love to us by sending His only Son, Jesus to
die on the cross for our sins. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8) Yes! He did this for
UNDESERVING people like you and me. And so who are we now to hurt our enemies
with violence, anger, and bitterness?
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| image taken from google |
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. –James 1:19-20