"As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed. The Philistine ridiculed David. “Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?” And he cursed him by his gods. “Come on,” said the Philistine. “I’ll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I’ll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice.”--I Samuel 17(The Message Bible)
As it relates to the scripture above--WOW! What insulting remarks...what a blatant attack on someone's character and dignity. If you were in David's place, what would your response have been?
Consider David's response to the giant, Goliath's, hurling insults, sarcasm, and verbalized opinion of David:
"David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!”
--I Samuel 17 (The Message Bible)
The motivational speaker and author, Les Brown, once stated, "Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality." David knew who he was (identity) in God. He knew his value, he knew his purpose, but most of all--he knew God and the power of his word.
When we are confronted with a "verbal assassin"--may we remember the power of the word of God. His word always trumps insults, sarcasm, and opinions. And, His word is TRUTH! If you have been insulted, the victim of sarcasm, or have been negatively impacted by someone's opinion of you, put the Word of God on it!
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."--Hebrews 4:12 (The Message Bible)
Consider David's response to the giant, Goliath's, hurling insults, sarcasm, and verbalized opinion of David:
"David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!”
--I Samuel 17 (The Message Bible)
The motivational speaker and author, Les Brown, once stated, "Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality." David knew who he was (identity) in God. He knew his value, he knew his purpose, but most of all--he knew God and the power of his word.
When we are confronted with a "verbal assassin"--may we remember the power of the word of God. His word always trumps insults, sarcasm, and opinions. And, His word is TRUTH! If you have been insulted, the victim of sarcasm, or have been negatively impacted by someone's opinion of you, put the Word of God on it!
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."--Hebrews 4:12 (The Message Bible)
