I know your presumption and the evil of your heart

Psalm 150; 1 Samuel 17:19-32; Acts 5:17-26

1 Samuel 17:28  His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David. He said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see the battle.”

Judging by the excerpt from Samuel that I used to title this post one might assume something very different than what is going on in the scripture.  This is what they were saying about David, "the man after God's own heart".  The man that would slay Goliath and become the king.
It is really the suspicion of the people that is what is wrong here, not David's heart. David is proud, yes, but he is committed to defending the name of the Lord.  His courage is greater than the others, not because he is stronger, or tougher, but because he cares more.  He is not going to let this "uncircumcised Philistine " make a mockery of his God. (how is that for being politically incorrect)

It is a complicated world we live in today.  I don't presume any easy answers to the problems that confront the world, our nation,  and each of us individually.  But I do know this; I am deeply saddened when those who would stand up for the name of God are accused of being evil and proud and just wanting to see battle.  This is a tough world and our liberty and freedom is on the line every day.  By God's grace we have the freedoms that we do have  and it is a sacrilege to  hand over those freedoms to whatever Goliath is intimidating us.  Yes, it is in vogue to accuse those that will fight, but I am not sure that those who avoid the fight because of fear and make these accusations are in the right.  If David were to do today what he did then, he would probably be facing court martial, imprisonment, and public humiliation in the press.  He certainly wouldn't become king.
Have we lost our first love as Jesus says about the church at Ephesus?  Have we become so "Christian" that we have forgotten who God really is?  Are we so afraid of the fight that we turn and accuse those who still have a zeal for the Lord?  Are we willing to follow someone that would slay a Goliath?  Or do we just go along to get along?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to rightly discern the battles that confront me.  Help me not to yield to temptation of my flesh, but to sincerely defend your Gospel when and how you would have me do that.  And help me to not accuse others for doing what I am afraid to do, or out of jealousy. Help me to have zeal for your name and be a person after your heart.     Amen.