David’s rhetorical question suggests that he
understood whose they were. How dare an uncircumcised belittle the people of
God. For Goliath to do so was to belittle the God they had a covenant with.
What he voiced was heard by his elder brother Eliab. And boy was he angry with
David! He then chided the younger brother, accusing him of neglecting his duty.
He accused David of being insolent and had a wickedness of heart.
Why was Eliab so angry with David? Perhaps David’s
question showed him up. His reaction to David tells us something about the
person he was. It shows that he did not know his position nor his God. His
behavior belied his fear. He was no different from all those men who were
cowering in fear. If he had the guts, he should have taken it out on Goliath
and not on his younger brother who was puzzled by how little they were aware of
who their God was. Of all people, Eliab who was there when Samuel anointed
David, should have a little incline of who the younger brother was. It should
have caused him to reflect and understood why his brother was so emboldened.
But he had no idea.
Refusing to engage in a squabble with his elder
brother, David retorted saying “What have I done now? Was it not just
a question?” He could have given him a dress down, but he
didn’t. After all, he said, was it not just a question? He was telling Eliab
that there was no need for his tirade and there was no need for him to be so
agitated. David then moved away and asked another person the same question.
Astonishingly, he received the same answer. No one could offer him a
satisfactory answer.
Victory in any conflict we encounter can be
ensured. We must first know the God we belong to. He is the Almighty God.
Secondly, we must know our position i.e. we are His. If God is for us who can
stand against us? Thirdly, we need to know we fight from the position of
victory. Finally, we need to know that the enemy we are in conflict with is a
defeated foe. Know your God, know yourself, know your enemy and our
victory is secured!
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