THE LAST WORDS ARE GOD'S

Greetings -

Scriptures from King James Bible

Recently I watched an episode of the game show, "Family Feud."  One family consisted of men with robust attitudes and bodies of brawn.  The other family was a mix of male/female with one pastor included.  At the outset, the pastor (I'll call him Pastor John) was up "against" one of the men of brawn (I'll call him Todd).  Todd stood across from Pastor John with the program host, Steve, in the center.  Todd boldly declared with pride, "The preacher is going down!"  Pastor John said nothing but stood there calm in demeanor. 

Todd's comment somewhat startled Steve.  Steve made a comment, in essence, that expressed surprise that Todd would communicate in such a way relative to a pastor.  Pastor John continued to exude calmness. Todd declared again with more boldness than his first utterance, "The preacher is going down!!"  This time Todd added visual effect.  He placed two fingers at the top of his head indicative of Devil's horns.  It is with pleasure that I report that Pastor John maintained his cool.  He did not appear at all rattled or disturbed.
Thank the Lord!

Well, Todd went "down."  The pastor went up to play the final round of the game.  Pastor John and his family eliminated Todd and his men of brawn.  As Pastor John stood there to continue in play, he spoke something to Todd.  What he spoke was not audible to the television viewers.  Further, as he spoke to Todd, Pastor John made a gesture with his hand towards Todd.  Even without benefit of sound, it was obvious that Pastor John had mildly chided Todd for his bold proud declarations.  The camera did not pan so that viewers could notice Todd's reaction.  But we can imagine his chastened demeanor.

That occurrence reminds me of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.  Goliath disdained David and was confident that David was no match for his stature and brawn.  Well, we know that Goliath fatally miscalculated.  It is understood, though, because Goliath believed that it was David who came to slay him.  The pure Words of GOD will finish this:

1 Samuel 17:26
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

1 Samuel 17:32
And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him: thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

1 Samuel 17:43
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

1 Samuel 17:44
And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

1 Samuel 17:45
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

1 Samuel 17:46
This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee: and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:47
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

1 Samuel 17:50
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him;...    

Both David and Goliath made bold declarations.  The distinct difference is that as is stated in Proverbs 28:1, "...the righteous are bold as a lion..."  David was righteously bold.  There was nothing that Goliath could do with that.  Also, David was combat ready with the GOD of the armies of Israel.  The Word of GOD never returns void.  And He gets the last words!