THE SWORD OF GOLIATH
Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 21-22
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This sword, found in ancient Corinth, is on display in the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth in Greece. Here you can see the blade and the guard, which has turned green.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 22:2
And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I choose You as my King. Grant that I may humbly follow You, whatever it takes. I’m Yours! Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I watch from time to time a very interesting man on the Fox News Channel whose name is Bill O’Reilly. He has written several books, among which are, “Killing Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy,” detailing the historical events leading up to their assassinations. Recently he announced that he’s writing a new book…”Killing Jesus.” This got my attention. I’m reading the accounts of Jesus’ death from the four Gospels each day this week leading up to Good Friday. I felt compelled to pray for Bill. He’s touching the very heart of God in this new book. He’s also touching God’s ancient people, the Jews. I’m putting a copy of my letter to him below.
Yours for giving allegiance to Jesus,
David
P.S. Here is my letter I just emailed to Bill O’Reilly…
Dear Mr. O’Reilly,
Mel Gibson was made out to be anti-Semitic because of the way he portrayed the events leading up to the death of Jesus. I’ve done national TV across Canada for over 50 years. Before the release of “The Passion of the Christ,” I wrote Mel a letter like this one. After the release of the movie I was on TV with three Rabbis discussing their concerns of anti-Semitism. I pointed out that I believed that Mel was ill-informed in some respects, and that this was the reason for the anti-Jewish charges. I consider this to be an open letter which I’ve placed on my daily blog, 100words.ca, on the day before Good Friday, Thursday, March 28th.
First of all, Pilate’s judgement hall would’ve held a maximum of about 300 people. Jesus was brought before Pilate shortly after the 6.a.m. sacrifices. Almost all those present would have been on the payroll of the High Priest. In no way did they represent the average Jewish person when they cried,”Crucify Him” and when they said, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” They were under instructions from the High Priest whose office was highly political as well as religious. This has been twisted by anti-Semites in the church and beyond to indict all the Jewish people. What a tragedy!
Secondly, Mel Gibson had only three women weeping when Jesus was carrying His cross to Golgotha. Yes they were weeping, but so was a great multitude. Again this represents the blame some want to put on all the Jews. The facts are found in the Gospel of Luke 23:27 which says, “A great multitude of the people followed Him and women who ALSO mourned and lamented Him.” “Also” shows that thousands of the Jewish people, who were now up and in the city for 9 a.m. from a night in their tents outside the city, were mourning for Jesus.These were the pilgrims there for “Passover.” They had been exposed to the ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem, in Galilee and elsewhere. These people represented the Jewish people, not the paid lackeys of the High Priest. This fact is backed up in Luke 23:48 & 49, “And the whole crowd who came together to that site (Golgotha) seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”
Either Mel did not get my message or chose to ignore it in favour of the twisted narrative we have had handed down because of early anti-Semites who rejected the Jewishness of Jesus and ignored the fact that most Christian leaders, and the great majority of Christians, were Jews for at least the first few decades in the history of the Church. It’s obvious, to me at least, that some non-Jewish Christians were either unaware of Luke’s record, or deliberately ignored it in order to curry favour with the Roman authorities.
I pray that you will have this passed on to you by your team members. I can hope for your eyes to see this. As you can tell I think this is very important for you, the “No Spin” man. The Jewish people are suffering because of the “Spin” of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
I watch you often and have read several of your books. I respect highly all you are trying to accomplish.
David Mainse
Don’t we all have a need for an advocate? We live in a society of gain and excess, a society with throw-away values, a society which relies heavily upon the government to take care of their needs. By receiving such a push of societal influence into our daily lives, we need help to resist the temptation to go along with the crowd. The Holy Spirit can be this advocate. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit can stick closer than a friend in times of trouble. We need this kind of advocate to help us on the straight-and-narrow road which leads to eternal life. Pray that the Holy Spirit will offer you guidance, talk to Him, get to know Him, for He really is that ever-present friend that lends help in times of trouble in our lives.
Absolutely, Scott. We need develop a more intimate and secure relationship with the Holy Spirit, who indeed is our friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24.
Well written letter to Bill O’Reilly which actually places a historical defence for Jews and refutes any justification of anti-Semitism. Hopefully, this insightful and historical information will be read open mindedly by Mr. O’Reilly’s as he puts his thesis forward.
In today’s reading it once again shows how mentally and spiritually disturbed Saul has become. I found it humerous how David feigned being insane to protect himself. It was a crazy world where one needed to be especially close to God in prayer and deed. Actually, not so different today. Blessings to all as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter!
Thank you David. Your care for the truth regarding the Jewish nation and God’s Word is so important. I appreciate the openness with which you share.
Blessings
Brian
Fantastic letter to Bill O’Reilly. I truly hope that his eyes are opened to the truth.
Bye for now,
Christy
Very well said. Excellent. Thank you David.
I really like your summary of this chapter, David, and your letter to Bill O’Reilly, which I hope will provide him with insight.
I felt that 1 Sam: 22 showed the dichotomy of good vs. evil. Saul, at one time, had the light of God upon him, and could have led the people righteously, had he followed God’s direction, rather than his own will. Now, he has become a dictator and killer of Ahimelech and all the priests in Nob, who acted to help David, giving him provisions, refuge for his people, and the sword of Goliath–a symbol of strength. Saul is surely an example of egotistical revenge–it is the evil that pervades through the veins of a leader driven by selfish ambition, power, and control. David and the priests are the epitome of good, following in the path that God is directing them, which we know, serves for his higher purposes, in the end.
Happy Good Friday, and Easter, fellow saints!
Bravo David, I really appreciate your letter to Bill O’Reilly and I pray he sees and accepts it. I am going to print off a copy and show it to some leaders as I have just heard the anti-Semitic view again.
I trust I have your permission to do that or I could refer to this blog. Thanks!
Happy Easter and blessings to all our fellow bloggers.
Thank you once again David for you insight into the blog today. We
see so many leaders who start off right and then slip into their own self reliance. Thank you for a great letter to BIll O’Reilly. I pray it will open his eyes to seeking more of the truth and lead him to Jesus. Praise God for our Saviour and His sacrifice for us.
Thank you for staying informed and sharing. I will be praying for Bill O’Reilly .
Hi David, It’s great that you are compelled to stand up for the truth.The death of Jesus can only be understood Spiritually,so it would take a great deal of Spiritual insight to write an accurate account of this most significant happening since the world began; the sacrificial death of Jesus,our Saviour, l and then the most victorious event in all history, his miraculous Resurrection. Unless people realize that Jesus had already agreed with the plan that was set long ago, that is, that he was willing to die in our place, to pay the price for our sins, it makes no sense as to why it was permitted to happen. The Jewish people should not be persecuted for this, as you explained so well. l can understand a little about this,as my grandfather was a Jew and l was raised Anglican, in the tradition of my grandmother. As l was walking down the street in England as a young person, l was recognized for my Jewish heritage, and some teenage boys yelled out “Christ killer!” l cannot describe to you the distress l felt at this cruel accusation!
Jesus said They hated ME they will hate you to , but be happy and blessed when they do. PTL we are HIS. R.
For the truth, read the Word of God:
Acts chapter 2, Peter’s address at Pentecost:
…22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:…
…36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.