OUR LEGACY FROM THE PAST - NCCUMC

44
The uncircumcised Philistine-clad in mail with a spear like a
weaver's beam-a sword at his thigh, defied the armies of the Living
God for forty days. So overwhelming his boast; so bold and
daring his denunciation, and so terrible for might, was the appearance
of his person that Saul and his whole army trembled at
his appearance. No man of war would dare meet this bold
bragadocias, but David in whose heart God had put a spirit of
bravery with firm reliance upon God, went forth without armor or
arms with five smooth stones from the brook and a shepherd's
sling-slew this Herculian defier of the living God.
David in one of his Psalms of exultation to his God says, "The
Lord will lighten my darkness. For by Thee have I run through a
troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. He teacheth my
hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms." Ps.
18:28, 29, 34.
Our own history is replete with monumental heaps of the truth
that God can sustain us. It is seen in the intrepid Ethan Allen at
Ticonderoga-the ever working Marion-the indomitable Putnam-the
victories of George Washington-and the unconquered
spirit of Jackson. A vast multitude of others might be mentioned
in this connection without disparagement to these.
"Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the
rich man glory in his riches; But let him that glorieth, glory in
this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord
which exerciseth loving kindness, judgement, and righteousness
in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jer.
9:23,24.
In the unfathomable mines of his never failing skill, his
unsearchable wisdom, his incomprehensible power, God can
devise ways and means to deliver us- to drive back our proud
foeman from our shores-can stay the madness of man-can
make man's wrath to praise Him and can restrain the remainder
of wrath. God can stay the dark cloud that hangs as an incubus
around our political horizon, can bid its flashing lightnings
cease-can say to the infuriated tornado of war, as Jesus said to