I like this quote, but I feel like it may be a bit understated. A battle for a human soul has higher stakes than a battle to the death. If you lose one of those battles, you die, but you were just going to die anyway, and if you're righteous, dying takes you to heaven, which isn't so bad when you think about it that way. If you lose the other battle, you lose out on spiritual blessings, both now and in the eternities. In either case, you die sooner or later, but in one of those cases, you die and go to hell.
Also, Satan is way more formidable than Goliath was (of course, I still might not say that to Goliath's face). Goliath is physically intimidating, while Satan is physically nothing, but Satan is immortal and eternally persistent, whereas Goliath was mortal and now, in fact, is dead. Were he still alive, Goliath could only kill us. Since Satan is still as alive as he has ever been and will ever be, he can corrupt and destroy our souls. In either case, you can fight, but it's arguable whether it'd be easier to beat Goliath at a contest of arms or Satan at a battle of will.
Fortunately, in either fight, we wouldn't have to fight alone. God is as present a helper to us as He has ever been for anyone. As long as we are trying to be righteous, He will give us all the strength we need to win the important battles of our lives, whether those fights are against giants or demons. I'm grateful for my Savior. I'm thankful for second chances and the strength that comes from striving for righteousness. Most especially, I'm thankful that our battles are never ours to face alone. God helped David overcome his enemy, and He can help me overcome my enemy, too.
2 comments:
I think that the author of the quote felt that people "get" the battle of David and Goliath but don't always get the importance of the spiritual battle.
Satan does not have a body, but apparently he can, indeed, be physically dangerous. Joseph Smith spoke of feeling near actual destruction as he prayed just before the First Vision. The man possessed by Legion received physical harm before Christ cast out the demons, arguably self-inflicted as the demons controlled him. I have heard of individuals being physically knocked about as the devil strove with them. Satan is capable of power in the physical world. Sometimes I wonder that he doesn't use it more and what restricts him. Fortunately his physical powers seem to be limited. His power to influence and destroy are quite formidable enough.
Hallelujah for the truth in your last paragraph! It is true. It is our hope and comfort. God is far mightier than Satan and He is on our side.
Something else to remember about the fight between David and Goliath is that it wasn't only one person's death at stake. The challenge that Goliath proposed was that the winner's people would take the loser's people to be their servants. So, if David lost, all of his people would have been enslaved.
But you are still right--physical death and physical slavery are still better than spiritual death and spiritual slavery, and spiritual implications last much longer than physical ones. It is great to remember that no matter what challenges we face, our Heavenly Father will be here to help us.
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