May 6, 2020 4 min
We find a familiar story in 1 Samuel 17 concerning the Israelite army camped in the valley of Elah against the Philistine army gathered at Sochoh. Each army stood on opposite mountains with a valley between them. The Philistine giant warrior, Goliath, towered over nine feet and taunted the Israelites morning and evening, asking for a man that would dare fight him. Not one Israelite soldier would accept his challenge for they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Goliath’s challenge continued for forty days and nights. One day, a young shepherd boy named David was dropping off lunch for his three older brothers who were serving in military. He overheard Goliath’s challenge and saw all the men of Israel flee, as they were dreadfully afraid. David, with righteous indignation rising within him, could not stand to see God’s covenant people running from someone with no covenant.
My friends, you may be facing giants that look big and impossible to handle. However, you are in covenant with the King of kings and Lord of lords. You need not fear anything or anyone.
David asked a question, What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? I want you to pay close attention to his next words. For who is this uncircumcised (uncovenanted) Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
David knew the power of his God. David knew he had nothing to fear. David knew no one should be running from Goliath. David saw the Bigness of His God. What has you running today? What has you up at night? What news have you been hearing that has put fear in your heart? What keeps you from faith in God to meet your needs, to protect you, deliver you, and heal you? Whatever giant confronts you, stop running from it! With raw courage, David convinced King Saul to let him fight Goliath. As David fearlessly drew near to Goliath, he is shocked that the Israelites would send a boy to fight him, so he begins to curse David and his God. David does not keep his mouth shut. This is good point to remember when you’re facing a battle. Do not ever shut up when the devil speaks to you. You speak back, not with just any words but the Word of God.
David said, You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.
David was not just a young man of talk. He was man of action. He got results!
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
David killed the source of the problem attacking God’s people, which was fear. I do not know what sickness is coming against your body today, but it is about to end. I do not know what financial crisis you may be facing, but it is about to end. Just as a pregnant woman’s term comes to an end, and labor begins to bring forth new life, there are some things you have been carrying in the spirit to which you are about to give birth. I believe the Body of Christ needs to attack and destroy areas in our lives where fear has controlled us. We need to attack the spirit of division trying to afflict our churches and replace it with the Spirit of unity. We need to attack the spirit of racism in our nation with the Spirit of love. May we, as believers, see our problems irresistible opportunities to attack with the Word of God, knowing we have full assurance of victory.
