2 Samuel 21:15-21 – God Silences His Enemies
Something else which will help you not grow weary in doing good is the reminder here that God silences his enemies. Not only do we have Goliath’s brother in this chapter. (He’s called Goliath here, but in 1 Chronicles 20:5, he’s referred to as Goliath’s brother.) We also have someone who talks like Goliath. We’re not told his name in verse 20. But this 12-fingered and 12-toed giant talks like Goliath. We’re told in verse 21 that he ‘taunted’ Israel. The word means defy, mock, deride. It’s the same word used repeatedly for Goliath’s derision of Israel and Israel’s God, back in 1st Samuel 17. And he should have known better. Years before, Goliath had come out with the same trash talk about God, and he had been silenced. And this Philistine is no different.
How many people are there in our day who trash-talk God and trash-talk the church? And yet one day every tongue will be silenced. Isaiah 54.17: ‘No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that raises against you in judgement’. In fact Philippians 2 tells us that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will not be silent, but will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And we pray that that will happen in this life. That scoffers will be converted. That like the Apostle Paul, those who once blasphemed the name of Christ would praise it instead. But either way, one day all their scoffing will be silenced. So do not grow weary in doing good. Because God will keep his promises. And one day soon all those who rage against Christ and his church will be silenced. Just keep going a little while longer.
Questions
- What did Goliath’s brother do?
- What happened to him?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that Christ has the ultimate victory.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.