Whoever
comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a
priest.
(2 Chronicles 13:9)
I
love David and Goliath stories
where right living results in confidence in a fight. Remember David's words on
the day he fought the giant? First to the Israelites: Who is this uncircumcised Philistine
that he should defy the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 17:26)? Then to the big palooka across the
battlefield: Today I will
give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the
beasts of the earth (17:46).
And
here many years later, David's great-grandson is faced with another kind of
Goliath - a vast army superior in numbers, training and weaponry. It's brother
against brother, or more correctly cousin against cousin as ten tribes of
Israel come against two tribes of Judah. Abijah speaks out: Your golden calves are no match for
the God of the universe. And by the way, didn't you drive out all the priests
of Yahweh? How are your replacement priests working out for you? You know, the
ones who got ordained on the Internet?
Nothing
like a little good natured trash talk between opponents.
And
then the battle is joined. The bookies had odds in favor of Israel, and yet
Judah carried the day, leaving Israel to limp home, shell shocked from the
beating they'd received.
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