This was the shepherd boy David's reply to the taunting of the Philistine giant Goliath in
Ephesdammim, where the Philistines and the armies of Saul were gathered to do battle.
I can just imagine that scene in my mind. Here comes the Philistine champion giant;
1 Samuel 17:4 - 7 "And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines,
named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cupits and a span. And he had an
helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight
of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon
his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was
like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and
one bearing a shield went before him."
This was a huge man. We all know that anything made of brass weighs a lot, but can you
imagine wearing a whole helmet made of brass? He must have had a massively strong
neck! A regular coat of mail would be hard for a normal man to move in, look what he
was wearing. The spear that he carried would be a lethal weapon. This monstrosity of
a man went and railed against Israel. It says in verse 11 of chapter 17 that King Saul
and all Israel heard what Goliath said and that they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Then we see a young lad, David come upon the scene. He had been sent with provisions
by his father for his brothers who were with the armies of Israel. When he arrived
he couldn't understand why no one was fighting this giant. So he started questioning
the men. When it was brought to the attention of Saul, that there was a young man asking
questions, he sent for David.
1 Samuel 17:32 "And David said to Saul, let no man's heart fail because of him;
thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
Why was David so quick to offer to fight this giant? We find in the following verses
that Saul tried to dissuade him, but David had seen the Lord provide him victories in
the past, giving him the strength to kill and lion and a bear that had come after the
flock that he had been tending. David had experienced the Lord's help and he knew
that he could count on the Lord not to fail him this time.
1 Samuel 17:37 "David said moreover, the LORD that delivered me out of the
paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand
of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."
The next few verses tell of Saul trying to outfit young David with his own armour. It
says that he put a helmet of brass of David's head and armed him with a coat of mail,
and gave him his sword. But David took it all off. All he took with him was his
shepherds staff, five smooth stones from the brook, and his sling.
Can you imagine what this mighty giant must have thought when he came out and
saw who the Israelites had sent to fight him! It says in verse 43 that Goliath cursed
David by his gods.
How did David kill Goliath? For indeed he did! Was it because he was quick and
agile and outmaneuvered the weighty giant? Was it because he was expertly adept at
using the slingshot? Was it luck? No to all of the above. Verse 45 shows us how David
prevailed.
"Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a
spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the
God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."
David did not defeat Goliath, God did. David was used by the Lord to achieve the
victory in battle that day. David knew that the battle was God's. Do we?
What giants are there in your life? We all have them. They come in different shapes
and sizes, but they are present in our lives. Maybe you battling the giant of depression,
fear, hopelessness, loneliness. Maybe your giants are along the line of greed, hate, envy,
discontent. Whatever giants are present in your life, taunting you and declaring victory
over you, there is one thing that you need to remember...the battle is the Lord's.
These giants can defeat us if we try to fight in our own strength, or if we try to be
victorious using the worlds strategies to deal with them. That is what Saul attempted
to do when he put his armour on David. But David didn't need Saul's armour, he
utilized what the Lord had provided him with; and we don't need the world and its
solutions, we have the heavenly provisions from God.
God has provided us with the needed armour to be victorious over these evil giants
that try to defeat us. We sometimes though, put it aside and try to fight on our own,
we should know better!
Psalms 18:35 "Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy
right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great."
Psalms 25:15 "Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for He shall pluck my
feet out of the net."
"Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD," here is the secret to victory! Where are your
eyes toward? Are you looking to the world and all its empty promises, to try and
gain victory in your life over the giants that are daily waiting to do battle with you?
Or are you eyes toward the Lord, and the wonderful promises contained in His holy
Word? Promises of His provision, strength, presence, mercy, help, love, grace and
victory.
Do you begin your day in the word and prayer with your heavenly Father, remembering
that, "The battle is the Lord's?" Trust God to arm you through His Word to fight the
enemies that comes along...He didn't let David down, and you can rest assured that He
will not let you down!
Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;
Your mighty Defender is always the same,
Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;
Victory is sure when you call on His name.
So put on the armor the Lord has provided;
And place your defense in His unfailing care.
Trust Him, for He will be with you in battle,
Lighting your path to a avoid every snare.
Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;
Your mighty Commander will vanquish the foe.
Fear not the battle, for the victory is always His;
He will protect you wherever you go.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage, for He is your Guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the victory is yours.
Linda Lee Johnson
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