Faith Associations

Quick - what is the first impression of faithfulness that comes to your mind when you think about these Old Testament fellows:

* Abraham: Great faith - willing to sacrifice the son he waited 100 years for (Genesis 22).
* Daniel: Great faith - survived the lions’ den (Daniel 6).
* Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah: HUH?? (Try Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego)...Oh, Yeah!: Great faith - remained cool when Nebuchadnezzar turned up the heat (Daniel 3).
* Samson: Great faith - gave new meaning to equestrian warfare (Judges 15)
* Elijah: Great faith – sacrificed 1 bull and 450 prophets of Baal in the same day (1 Kings 18)
* David: Great faith – overcame gigantic obstacles (1 Samuel 17)
* King Saul: Faith in God's work in others – WHAT?? Saul a man of faith? Wait, are we talking about the same Saul that openly disobeyed God and then lied to His prophet? The same Saul that grew jealous of David and set out to kill him?

Yeah, that’s the guy. You see, Saul wasn’t always such a bad man. At one time, according to 1 Samuel, Saul was an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites, chosen by God Himself to deliver the Israelites from the hand of the Philistines. And when Saul exercised his faith, God accomplished great victories through His servant Saul. But Saul recognized God working in David and had faith enough to encourage God’s servant in his appointed task.

Let’s return to the story of Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Goliath was an impressive and formidable figure, over nine feet tall, who struck great fear in the entire Israelite army. For 40 days, Goliath would issue the same challenge – send one soldier to take me on and if he wins, the Philistines would become the slaves of Israel; but if Goliath won, the Israelites would become slaves of the Philistines. Wow, what pressure, to have the fate of the entire nation resting on the shoulders of only one man. We all know that David was up to the task. That he met Goliath’s challenge with only a shepherd’s staff, a sling and five smooth stones.

But David wasn’t the only one who recognized God at work in this story. When David came before Saul to take up the gauntlet, Saul was taken aback by David’s youth. “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33) (Emphasis added) What faith! No…I am not talking about David, but Saul! As King of all of Israel, Saul had an obligation to protect his people. He was called upon to be a great strategist – a strong and wise leader. But to send a BOY out to do an army’s job, the nation must have thought he was crazy…we know Goliath did. To place the entire fate and future of his nation – God’s people no less – on the word and actions of a simple boy, with no armor to protect him, armed with only a sling and a prayer, he must have recognized something that most crazy people don’t – God is stronger than any giant or any army!

So when some youth seeks to do great things for God, don’t stop them! Encourage them and seek to help in any way possible, even if that means letting go and getting out of the way.

“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

“Do not put out the Spirit's fire…” 1 Thessalonians 5:19