Romans 9:22-24, Vessels of God’s Mercy
Romans 9:22-24 (KJV) 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
When the Philistine giant Goliath challenged the children of Israel, he said to them, “I defy the armies of Israel, this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Samuel 17:10). All Israel trembled, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. David, the shepherd boy, delivering food for his brothers by the instruction of his father Jesse, heard the challenge of Goliath. David replied, “…who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). We are familiar with this story of David, who by faith, defeated Goliath by a single shot from his sling.
God made His power known that day when Goliath, raised of God as a vessel of wrath prepared for destruction, who challenged Israel for 40 days, was taken down by David. This little boy was God’s vessel of mercy, to show forth the riches of His glory.
Christians are named by the Apostle Paul as vessels of mercy to underscore their great privilege to reflect the glory of God. By our faith in God through Christ, we experienced God’s power to overcome sin to reflect the beauty of holiness in our lives. Indeed, it is a blessed life that God wants His people to cherish and share! Amen.