So Far

“A gazelle lies slain on your heights, Israel. How the mighty have fallen!  2 Samuel 1:19.  


Today's passage from pages 99-100 is  full of meaning.  The nasty orcs appear to have bitten off more than they could chew.  The trap they had sprung on Gandalf and the dwarves proved to be their own undoing.
Gandalf proved his worth during both the rescue and escape as well as in the retelling of the story to Bilbo.  The backdoor which was the goblins' secret weapon was the very escape route used by the party.
Of course Tolkien aficionados aren't as surprised as latecomers.  This happens to be the same Gandalf who stands toe to toe with a balrog in the Fellowship of the ring mind you.  But if you are new to the epic I won't be a spoiler.
But almost overlooked at the end of this passage is one really important key.  It's easy to skip over this part.  In the celebration of the hard won victory there is also a tragic tale.

All the others laughed too.  After all they had lost a good deal, but they had killed the Great Goblin and a great many others besides, and they had all escaped, so they might be said to have had the best of it so far.

I like how he tacks on those last two words.  So far.
As Sarah Arthur writes in Walking With Frodo "Satan hasn't surrendered.  He's still waging battles and skirmishes."
David had every reason to rejoice over the death of Saul.  Yet he mourned the passing of a great man.  A fallen man, yes, but a king.  Last year when we studied 1 and 2 Samuel I thought I would identify with David.  Instead God showed me how much I resembled Saul.
A bitter pill to swallow perhaps, but good medicine if it keeps me from becoming prideful.  But for the grace of God, there go I.
One more bit of wisdom I have picked up, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."  Proverbs 25:17 KJV.  

By Grace,

Travis P. Dickerson