Greater Is He

The Bible says that it took the Israelites a long, long time to get a grasp on the greatness of God.  I believe that is true not only for the Israelites but for the Church of today as well.  We hear of what God has done and rejoice at what He has done.  But sadly, in some part of our brain there is a disconnect between what He has done and what He can do.  As the Israelites needed a constant reminder, not because of their great wickedness but because of their humanity, so do believers today.  It is sadly part of our fallen and sinful condition. 

Four hundred years before our Bible passage today, the Israelites had been afraid of giants.  Today they are again. “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine (Goliath), they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”  But wait, we are tempted to say.  God had shown them that He could defeat an entire civilization of giants. Yes, He had.  And now they were facing a new giant and they were afraid again.  Isn’t that how it really goes for us as well?  Did Jesus Christ not defeat the giants of death and hell at the cross of Calvary?  Did He not win the battle against the giant of our condemnation?  Did He not defeat every attack of Satan for us? Yes, He did.  Still, when new giants arise they have a different look than the old ones.  We see too much with the eyes and too little with faith. 

God doesn’t smack us for this failing.  He loves us.  We are His.  Every time a sheep sees a wolf and cowers, does the shepherd beat the sheep for forgetting his past care?  We are the sheep of Christ’s pasture.  He doesn’t beat us either.  He speaks to us words of assurance.  It is true that the sheep who are feeding closest to the shepherd fear the wolf the least, but He still cares for them all.  So God sent a shepherd boy, David, to calm the fears of the Israelites and their king.  He sent a savior to defeat the giant.  He still does.  He reminds us in love that Greater is He than any giant we face. 

Greater God’s great love and grace than any giant we will face

Greater power is in His rod than any giant this earth will trod

Greater care comes from His hand than all the giants in the land

Greater arms around us hold the fearful sheep within His fold

Greater, greater, greater is He than all the giants we will see

Great Christ our Good Shepherd be Who’s won for us each victory. 

 

 

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