Eliab was incensed that his kid brother David—not yet old enough to even shave, much less join the army—had found a way to get to the battle front by bringing food provisions to his brothers. Of all the tricks! And now Eliab hears him asking for the details about all that King Saul had promised to whoever defeated Goliath! What a precocious little schmuck!
Eliab doesn’t try to hide his anger and disdain: Why have you come down here? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle! And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? (1 Sam. 17:28)
With his jab about the sheep Eliab has employed one of the oldest tricks out there: argument ad hominem. To win your case you attack or discredit the person. Here Eliab belittles David by saying David’s work is insignificant: “All we can put you in charge of are those few sheep in the wilderness.”
Have you felt the sting of an argument ad hominem, an argument against your person? Have the Eliabs in your life said things like this?
- “Let me guess—another screwup, right? I can tell you’re going to go far!”
- “If you had even half a brain…!”
- “You? Don’t get your hopes up!”
You can see that each of those statements discredits or devalues you. And of course, all this stems from our arch enemy, the devil, who is called “the accuser of our brothers” (Rev 12:10). He loves to make us feel utterly worthless.
So how should we respond to the attacks on our person? the devaluing accusations and the feelings that we are worthless? I think the best way is to look again at the Man on the middle cross. Though it’s true we are unworthy, we are certainly not worthless. He created us in His own image. He died to forgive and redeem us sinners. He called us into a relationship with Himself. He has scripted a joy-filled eternity for us. Unworthy? Sure. But would He do all that if we were worthless? Not for a minute! Look to the Man on the middle cross!