Is There Not A Cause?

“Is there not a cause?” What a great question from the young man David. A question directed to the army of Israel; to men who had cowered down in fear and refused to stand and fight for the Lord. David believed there was a cause to live for; and if need be, to die for...

“David said, … ‘Is there not a cause?’”– 1 Samuel 17:29-30

“Is there not a cause?” What a great question from the young man David. A question directed to the army of Israel; to men who had cowered down in fear and refused to stand and fight for the Lord. David believed there was a cause to live for; and if need be, to die for. Facing the same circumstances, seeing the same enemy and aware of the same obstacles, what is it that would cause the men of Israel to fearfully withdraw from the battle while David on the other hand is ready for war, declaring “Is there not a cause?”. What lessons are there to learn from such faith?

First let it be noted that David, in his young age, still had that ‘child-like’ faith that God requires. This kind of faith believes in God’s power and God’s ability to do all things, at all times, in all situations. It is the kind of faith that we must carefully guard and cling to. We must never allow experience and age (masked as supposed wisdom) to cause us to quit trusting in God.

Secondly, David was more concerned about God than he was about himself. His outrage was that God’s people, and consequently the Name of God with them, had been reproached in the eyes of this world (vs. 26). Oh how we need God’s people to rise up with this same Holy resolution! His concern was for God. Period. Anytime we get this wrong we too will be paralyzed by fear. We must always be thinking, looking, and walking for God’s glory and that alone. David would have rather died than to see God’s name reproached. The rest of the Army, on the other hand, were willing to see their God’s name reproached, and to live in defeat, so long as they could cling on to their own lives. Away with this heartless, powerless, and faithless living. “Is there not a cause?” Of course there is! It is, in fact, the greatest cause you will ever stand for.

And third, let it be noted that David did not listen to the crowd. Even as a young man who no doubt had respect and admiration for the men of such an army, David refused to let their negative views and their fear-filled hearts affect his devotion and faith in God. This is an important lesson indeed for each of us. Even in the camp the majority of the army is quickly ruled by fear when Goliath stands in the way. We must learn to never let the negativity, the fear, the doubt, the pessimism, and the down-right unbelief of those around us to penetrate our hearts and cause us to become like them. Like David, we must stand strong and lead the way. We must be brave, steadfast, and focused on God and His glory alone. Just as ten of the twelve came back from the Promised Land and reported to Moses “We cannot… we are but grasshoppers [in the sight of our enemies]” and only Joshua and Caleb had faith to believe God and say “We are able” – so too is it today. The anthem that most sing is that of the ten: “We cannot”. God help us to never sing that song and to never embrace such defeat.

Through Christ WE ARE ABLE! Those who will face the giants, those who will march into the promised land, those who stand brave and refuse to give up have always been, and always will be – the few. But one thing that does not change is that there has always been that ‘few’. Let it be said of us that we have belonged to such a group. That we have been leaders for God and not followers of men. Is there not a cause?

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