Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!" – 1 Samuel 4:9

Today's Scripture Reading (March 29, 2022): 1 Samuel 4

On the doorstep of the Great Depression, Calvin Coolidge offered this advice to a hurting nation.

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race" (Calvin Coolidge).

Nothing will change our world if it is not accompanied by persistence. And the truth is that our contemporary society is not good at persistence. We start with great aims but, all too often, that great start slides into compromise as we get tired of the cost associated with doing great things. We hear the cry to "Press On!" but respond that we are tired and that we just want things to be easy again, regardless of what the cost to our lack of persistence might be.

A great cry has risen from Israel as the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Israelite camp. It is a cry that is heard by the Philistines. And the Philistines are aware that a great God has come to the aid of the Israelites. And they ask the question, who can stand against a God like that.

It is a good question. We believe that no one can stand up against our God. The Apostle Paul, writing to the Church at Rome, asks the question, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us" (Romans 8:31)? And the answer to his question is direct. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" Romans 8:37). 

But the Philistine answer to the God who has entered into the camp of the Israelites is not to give up or give in. The Philistine Generals encourage their troops to respond to this situation with persistence. The reality is that the command to "Press On" will always win against the forces who are willing to compromise, even if the cause is just and good. And history is filled with examples of armies who have won only because they refused to lose. And this is true even for militaries that are standing on the wrong side of the situation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 5