David was but a young man when he came into the service of Saul, yet he soon made an amazing impression on Saul who was often very troubled in his mind. David played beautiful soothing music and brought relief to the king.

However David first came to the attention of the king when Goliath was terrorising the army. We know the story well how David killed Goliath, so I will not recount it here. Notice how David spoke with great confidence, not in his own ability but in that ability God had given. He had killed wild animals that had taken his fathers sheep. But notice this now, David was advancing on in his life …. I used to keep sheep for my father …. Now this Goliath will be like those animals I killed … This man who defies the living God.
I can’t help but feel we need to be much more courageous in our stance before the god of this world (satan). We do not recognise his working in the lives of people around us, or indeed in the dictats from those who are the leaders of our nation both at local level and national level. We need to be diplomatic but somehow I feel we as church do not state firmly or clearly enough the position our nation is in when those leaders set over us make very bad decisions ie. decisions which run very clearly against the Word of God. Of course we have lost our credibility at the moment because in this last century we have not spoken out until it is too late or when we have spoken it has been with many voices without any clear direction.

In David’s time it was clear where God sat as it were, and that was right slap in the centre of the nation. They lived in awe of the living God. Not so now, there is no fear of God in the nations. Who is God? does he exist? No is the cry of the majority. But of course God is still there and He will have His way and this message needs to be told to all in authority over the nations of this world. You run counter to the rules of this living loving God to your detriment. But of course people will laugh at such comments because God is a delusion isn’t he! Is it time therefore we as church work together to challenge our politicians and leaders to fear the living God, to strive to uphold the righteousness that Proverbs tells us exalts a nation. We have lost so much over the past century simply because we have abandoned our faith in God and run after other gods. The nation of Israel in the Old Testament faced horrendous situations simply because they abandoned their worship of the living God. Nothing has changed, this principle still holds true. Live by the rules of the living God and you will know success, health, vitality, abundant provision etc. Of course this is idealistic but amidst the imperfection which is our lot and the endeavours to do what God wants us to do, good fruit will be produced. Even though we frequently get it wrong if we have an open heart towards God fruit produced will generally be good. So leaders whoever you are get rid of your arrogance and humble yourselves before this living God whom we all can know through His revelation to us. God has been shouting to us through His creation, His word the Bible and through the life of Jesus Christ His son.

Let us see men of valour who will lead our nation righteously because they believe in and trust in the living God. Men whose weapon is not a weapon of mass destruction but the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit.

David Weaver Sussex