Tuesday July 18, 2023
Theme: “Age: a factor of engagement or disengagement in the work of God” Text: 1 Samuel 17:31-37
31. When they had heard the words spoken by David, they repeated them before Saul, who sent for him. 32. David said to Saul: Let no one be discouraged because of this Philistine! Your servant will go fight with him. 33. Saul said to David, You cannot go and fight with this Philistine, for you are a child, and he is a man of war from his youth. 34. David said to Saul, Your servant was tending his father's sheep. And when a lion or a bear came to take one of the flock, 35. I ran after him, I struck him, and I snatched the sheep from his mouth. If he stood against me, I grabbed him by the throat, struck him, and killed him. 36. Thus thy servant slew the lion and the bear, and it shall be with the Philistine, this uncircumcised, as one of them, for he has insulted the host of the living God. 37. David said again, The LORD, who delivered me from the claw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you!
Let's remember:
Age ceases to be a qualifying criterion to lead the fight of an entire people when God invests great potentialities in a young body. If the bravery and innocence of youth associated with faith and trust in God are involved, despite the age, the young can surprise the great men seasoned in battle. Everything depends on the commitment that comes from the good knowledge of God who is the source of this firm assurance. It is not surprising to see the great warriors flee the fight for lack of confidence in themselves and in their God, and this, despite the previous exploits experienced, objects of divine intervention in them; when they were already old. The Israeli troops were made up of great experienced warriors. They were all of normal age and sufficient to go into battle. But these great and valiant warriors could not advance to the front line. They cowered behind the fear of being crushed by the clumsy Goliath, despite the insults uttered against their God. What about this young man David who revolted to know that no one from the camp of Israel dared to face the great Goliath? We are entitled to say that the age of the older ones was a factor of disengagement in combat while that of little David was a factor of engagement. Like what the most important thing is to know how to listen to the inner voice of God which reassures our faith and engages us in combat, despite our weak age. It is He, the Eternal, who leads our battles by exercising our hands and our fingers in battle. When it is God who fights for us, our age no longer counts, the main thing is to remain silent. Excellent Tuesday. Amen Alain Louz.-
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