In the Christian Science Bible Lesson April 1, 2013 Issue

Freedom through glorifying God

For the Lesson titled "Unreality" for April 1 - 7, 2013

Abby Fuller Innes

In this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, titled “Unreality,” we are enjoined to choose a side in the war between good and evil, and to serve on the side of good. We cannot remain uninvolved bystanders. In the Responsive Reading, we have the reminder that “through thy [God’s] precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalms 119:104). Hate is a strong word, but necessary here, because evil, or error, is not a mere annoyance or distraction. It is the temptation to believe that there is power outside of God, good, that we must overcome.

As a child, I was enamored with the idea of young, small David overcoming the older, gigantic warrior Goliath (see I Samuel 17, citation 4). It didn’t really occur to me to think about the fact that a young teenager was volunteering to fight to the death with a trained, adult soldier. It seems that David’s bravery and valor were being glorified. Taken literally, this is deeply troubling. As a metaphor, though, it has a powerful lesson to teach us about relying solely on God, not on human abilities. David’s complete trust in God’s present help secured protection not only for himself, but also for his people. David’s faith in God, not valor, is being glorified here.  

Philistines are believed to have been sea-faring people from some Mediterranean islands in the Aegean Sea, owned by Greece today. They landed in what is today southern Israel/Palestine and warred with local residents to take possession of the land. 