Out Our Way: Along the Covenant Trail with Goliath

Out our way, some of the old west still lingers. It is not just the ranchers and cowhands we see in town, or the trail drives up to Beaver Creek that remind us of what was once the norm, but also critters. We see the deer and the antelope "play" from time to time as we drive between towns; we hear and sometimes spot coyotes just off the highway, and even hear tell of grizzly bear sightings on the high plains east of the national parks. But for me, the scariest of all was a run-in Goliath and I had with a mountain lion.

It wasn't out in the Bear Paws or the Beaver Creek camp grounds but less than a few yards outside of town where I stabled Goliath and Babe. I was taking Goliath out for a run and before I saddled him up I wanted to check his feet and curry his back. Normally, Goliath stands very still and patiently, but this time he was acting anxious. We were just outside the arena area and he was tethered to the horse trailer as usual while I got him ready, but he wouldn't stand still. His ears kept going back and forth and he was pulling in his lead as if trying to get away. I confess I was getting impatient with him when I looked up into the pasture just above the arena - and there was the lion, heading slowly down the hill in our direction.

 I was surprised and not a little anxious myself, but when the lion realized that Goliath was not alone -that there was a human with him - the kitty cat turned right around and raced up and over the hill and out of sight. Apparently while the cat thought it might be able to handle Goliath, the idea of dealing with Goliath and me was too much.

As most people know, in unity there is strength - and that was a lesson Israel had to learn. The 12 tribes entered the Promised Land as one people under God, led by Joshua as they had been led by Moses. But, after a time, that sense of unity began to be forgotten. They were all Israelies united in the Covenant with God - but it didn't take long for tribal interests and personal desires to replace the will of God or the nation. The 12 tribes never fully united again under the Judges - but as the threat to the nation grew, God sent a prophet and leader in the person of Samuel. 

Samuel was the servant of God and never forgot that fact, for though the people listened and obeyed him, he made it clear that he was not the one leading or commanding them, but the Lord. It was not Moses who had forced Pharaoh to release the slaves, it was not the power of Moses that parted the waters nor provided the manna and quail, All that was the Hand of God. The people resisted it and spent 40 years in the wilderness learning that lesson. Now, a few generations later, they needed to learn it again.

Thus it was a new power arose along the coast called the Phillistines. Unlike the Israelites they had a professional army, and, even more to the point, they had discovered how to make iron and kept that knowledge secret. In battle an iron sword would slice through the copper swords of the Israeites and render them defennseless in short order. The only advantage the Israelites had over the Philistines were sheer numbers ... but only if the whole of Israel would work together and present a united front.

So God sent Samuel and through the power of His Spirit, Samuel united the tribes at long last and held the Philistines at bay until eventually they were ultimately defeated.

 "Divide and conquer" is one of basic military strategies used by famous and successful leaders in war. It is also one o0f the chief tools of the Enemy - the Prince of Darkness - whose greatest power is that of deception and division. Churches fall apart as Paul noted in his letter to the Corinthians, because the people forget God and His Kingdom in favor of themselves and their own little fiefdoms.

The kingdom of God, like that of Israel, is one in unity and not division. Only the Enemy benefits from that.

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Ole Doc the Lion Tamer and his sidekick "Brother John" Bruington serve the Kingdom in Havre, Montana, at First Presbyterian Church and through the Havre Daily News. Feel free to share these columns with anyone who might enjoy them and they are offered free to any newspaper or other publication that would like to share them.