There is a Cause
1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, what have I now done? Is there not a cause?
Introduction: I am delighted to be at His feet here again as Scriptures speak to us. God will keep us all in His love unto His coming in Jesus’ name.
Today, we are looking at a cause in any event of our lives. Let us look at David’s question to his eldest brother, Eliab; Is there not a Cause?
What is a cause? A cause is the source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
I want you to know that to every event that occurs in our lives, there is a reason. For every physical event that occurs in our lives, there is a divine purpose and agenda.
Hear what Scriptures speak;
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
All that is needed is to find out why any event or situation is occurring in our lives, seek God’s word or better still, believe God’s word for your life provided you are acquainted to His words.
By the words of God, certainty of His Providence, Promises and Plans will be discovered to know that “There is a Cause” in every situation a child of God passes through.
For me, two key scriptural verses from God that should be purpose driven for a child of God to forge ahead in all circumstances is found in:
1️⃣ Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
2️⃣ Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Looking at our text, Why did Jesse send David to check on his brothers in the war front?
1 Samuel 17:17-18 One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.”
Why was there battle between Israel and the Philistines that involved David’s brothers?
1 Samuel 17:19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.
Why did David arrive at the time Goliath came out to challenge the God of Israel which brought fear to Israelites?
1 Samuel 17:23- 24 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
What made jittery men of Israel to discuss rewards for a giant killer which drew David’s attention?
1 Samuel 17:25 “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
Why was David interested in the rewards despite risks involved seeing the giant?
1 Samuel 17:26-27 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
Why was Eliab furious towards David with verbal assaults?
1 Samuel 17:28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
What an answer to Eliab’s assault and discouragement?
1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, what have I now done? Is there not a cause?
This answer is our focal point today. Is there not a cause? Do you know there is a cause for your existence? There is a cause for where you are, what you are, who you are and who you’re married to, what you have and position that you are?
Hear the Scriptures speak;
Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart.
Have you found out the cause of your life? As a believer, anointed or set apart for God, have you sought God for the source of, or reason for an event or action which produces or effects a result in your life?
When Saul fell near Damascus on his way to persecute Disciples of Christ, in his Encounter with Jesus, he asked;
Acts 9:6 Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Inability to seek for knowledge of the cause of every situations of our lives as Christians can bring shipwrecks of faith in our Christian journey.
Hosea 4:6a My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
Someone brought up an acronym “WWJD” for anytime actions are needed in any cause or event in life. The acronym means “What Will Jesus Do?“
When you know purpose of your existence, the cause of your new life in Jesus Christ, then upward movement is inevitable irrespective of what people think or do to you
David knew there was a cause in his life, that was why he ignored insults and discouragement from Eliab, his elder brother. David simply said; What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
Let me take you back a little bit to the calling and anointing of David
Remember the rejection of Saul by God, who after his rejection still led Israel to face Goliath.
1 Samuel 15:28 And Samuel said to him, “The lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.
Do you remember God had sent a prophet to anoint the one who will be the giant killer instead of Saul?
1 Samuel 16:1 Now the lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
Do you have an idea why Eliab insulted David despite coming to seek their welfare at their father’s instruction?
1 Samuel 16:6-7 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the lord’s anointed!” But the lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart.”
He was rejected to be the replacement for Saul and he must have had resentment against David. Just like Joseph and his brothers, there was no peaceful conversation with David who came for his welfare.
The anointed one is supposed to be a giant killer. This was the cause why David was at the war front.
1 Samuel 16:10-13 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” There is still the youngest, “Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats. ” Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.
If you’re sure that you are God’s anointed, then, you’re a giant killer. You’re to overcome any obstacles in your life as you move along the narrow path to fulfil God’s purpose for your life. For every situation in the life of a believer, whether good or bad, there is a cause. Usually, you get to know the cause why you pass through a situation after the result. Trace some of the events in your life, such as where you were born, who gave birth to you, schools you attended, who you married, etcetera and you will see there is a cause.
My wife and I reminisced about how we met in a remote area of Iree town in Oyo state then where there was a satellite campus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I left Ilorin for the remote area where I got admission in 1982 after several failed attempts and obstacles in getting admission in cities. I went with joy and when I got there for the 1st time, it was like throwing an innocent boy into forest. I had no choice but to continue because I was tired staying at home while some of my mates had almost finished 1st degree and those of my age mate who had smooth education were in NYSC. Now, my wife on the other hand got late admission into same campus in 1983 despite having her HSC at St. Theresa in Ibadan. When her parent and brother took her to that remote area, she was begged to return back to Ibadan and complete her HSC. In Iree campus then, when you trek for 100m, you’ll be covered with dust from head to toe. It was a village setting only the students brought life to that town then. My wife decided to endure hardness there despite opportunity to return back to Ibadan. She started her program and that was how we met in December, 1983. Why did she not get chance at the main campus in Ibadan? Why did she refuse to return to Ibadan to complete her HSC? Why was it that it’s only Iree campus that was available for her and not other satellite campus? Answering those questions and others, we came to conclusion that, there was a cause to enable us to meet and marry. By August this year, our union as husband and wife will be 32years. This is just one among several others that we found out that “there was a cause” for passing through situations and circumstances in our lives.
Speaking Scriptures now, there was a cause for Esther to become queen. She was reminded that “there was a cause” why she became queen. When Israel was about to be wiped away and Esther was reluctant to speak to her husband due to grievous consequences if she went at inappropriate time, for there was an existing law that king must send for her before she can appear. Therefore, she sent message to Mordecai why it was impossible to see the king on behalf of the Jews about to be destroyed. Hear what Mordecai told her;
Esther 4:13-14 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Do you know the cause why you are what you are today? Are you aware that there is a divine purpose for your existence? I get scared anytime I read Mordecai’s reply to Esther. It means to me, even though you’re where you think you’re secured, if you refused to do what God is expected of you for any reason, God will choose another channel to achieve His purpose and death is inevitable for the chosen vessel who refuses to carry out divine purpose.
Pray now: Father, please enforce me to do your will anywhere I find myself in Jesus name.
Esther got the revelation. Hear her response;
Esther 4:16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
Pray now: Lord, let me do what you bid me anywhere I find myself whatever the cost. I’ll be a good soldier for you and die at my post in Jesus name.
Let’s see one more from the Scriptures. Do you know there was a cause for Joseph to pass through difficult times? Even when he was justified to avenge what his brothers did to him, hear what he said; Genesis 45:5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.
When Joseph saw that his brothers were afraid and uncomfortable because of the evil done to him, Hear what he said;
Genesis 50:19-21 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So, he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
If you recognized divine purpose for your journey and achievements in life, you will not desire to retaliate in anyway as a Christian.
If you will not want to disrupt God’s plan for your life, and you see every situation in your life as God’s design to fulfil His purpose, then know that “there is a cause”. If you see from Joseph’s point of view, there will be no bitterness against anyone who hurt you along the way to be who you are now. Then, you will end well like David, Esther and Joseph knowing that whatever happens to you, THERE IS A CAUSE.
Finally, I know there is a divine cause for whatever happens to any covenant child of God. Your position as the chosen of the Almighty God should be, For I know the thoughts that God thinks toward me, as He has said, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give me an expected end and I know that all things will work together for my good as I love God, who has called me according to his purpose.
✋ Maranatha
