Title: The False Bargain / Topic: Lies Of The Enemy

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:8-10, 50-52
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." 10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other..."
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.
51 ...When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

Observation: Goliath proposes a way to settle the dispute and avoid total war. But when David takes him up on it and wins the personal combat, notice that the Philistines have no intention of keeping their end of the bargain by becoming the subjects of the Israelites. No they retreat and there is total war anyway.

Application: The enemy is a liar by nature and will usually offer "deals" that are really false bargains. The offer usually says, make a compromise and get a benefit. For example, to Eve the enemy said, "eat of the fruit, you won't die and you will gain wisdom and become like God." A pack of lies it was. Why did the army of Israel listen in the first place? Never let the enemy dictate terms of engagement. First of all, they are based on lies, and secondly, the enemy won't follow them anyway. Follow God's agenda.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You tell the truth. You are the source of truth. Help Your servants to see the enemy's lies as lies and give us the wisdom not to listen to them. May we be dictating terms to the enemy and not the other way around. Make us strong and wise.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.